1821.] THE AUTHOR'S EARLY LIFE. xxi 



me fifteen or twenty feet beneath the water. At length, when my 

 feeble struggles had once more raised me to the surface, I found that 

 my strength had entirely left me ; and ceasing to struggle, I passively 

 and slowly descended, confident that I could never come up again 

 without assistance, and feeling that after such powerful exertions 

 and consequent fatigue, it was sweet to rest, even if it were the rest of 

 death ! 



When I had slowly sunk about two feet below the surface, in nearly 

 an erect posture, with my face off shore, and my eyes open, J saw 

 my brother's boat coming in, on a very heavy roller ; he appearing 

 determined to save or perish with me. As the boat came in with 

 great velocity, I saw him standing in the bow, with a coiled line in 

 his hand ready to throw to my assistance, which he did as soon as he 

 came within proper distance, and with such accuracy that the coil, 

 settling much faster than I did, came directly over my head. Heaven 

 gave me strength to clench it in my hand, which I did with a death- 

 gripe, and in the next moment my brother had hold of me. 



" Stern, all !" he exclaimed, and the oars were vigorously plied to 

 pull the boat backwards from the breakers ; but before she could clear 

 them, she came very near standing on end or pitchpoling. 



Thus far my senses faithfully performed their several functions. I 

 could see, hear, feel, think, reason, and draw conclusions. But the 

 instant I was raised to the surface, and felt the breath of heaven on 

 my face, I knew no more, but lay insensible, apparently dead, for four 

 hours ; during all which time no human strength could compel my 

 fingers to relax their hold of the cord which, under Providence, saved 

 me from a watery grave. 



When I recovered my senses, I found that I had cascaded a vast 

 quantity of salt water, and felt myself utterly prostrated with excessive 

 weakness. The boats were now pulling for the schooner, which they 

 reached about midnight, the watch on deck having called Captain 

 Johnson, on seeing us approach. My brother's boat was the first to 

 get alongside, when he briefly communicated to the captain the nature 

 of my situation. The moment I was lifted from the boat to the deck 

 of the Wasp I found myself in the arms of Captain Johnson ; who, 

 with a full heart and overflowing eyes, immediately returned thanks to 

 God for my truly miraculous deliverance. 



From Staten Land we shaped our course for the South Shetland 

 Islands,* and arrived at Monroe's, after a pleasant run of four days, 

 with light winds from the east and north-east, and clear weather. In 

 cruising among these islands we experienced many dangers and hair- 

 breadth escapes from the fields of ice which frequently surrounded our 

 little vessel. Our situation at times was peculiarly hazardous, cheer- 

 less, and lonely, — no other vessel appearing in those seas to interrupt 

 the solitude which surrounded us for sixteen days, although we were 

 daily expecting the brig Jane Maria, of New- York, belonging to the 

 same concern, for which we were to prepare a cargo of sea-elephant 

 oil or blubber. 



On the third day after our arrival we explored our way, with ex- 



* Sse chap. iii. 



