XX 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH OF 



[1821. 



men ! I shall not trouble the reader with my " whole course of 

 wooing ;" a record of the result is sufficient for my present purpose. 



Having heard much of the South Shetland Islands, and the stirring 

 incidents of a sealing voyage in the South Seas, I felt a strong desire 

 to become a partaker in the labours and profits of such an enterprise. 

 Accordingly in the month of June, 1821, I accepted the office of first 

 mate on board the schooner Wasp, belonging to James Byers, M'Intire, 

 Nixson, and B. W. Rogers of New- York, and commanded by Captain 

 Robert Johnson. My brother also went out in the same vessel, as 

 second mate. We had a fine passage to the Falkland Islands, 

 where we found the brig Aurora on shore at New-Island, in Shallop 

 Cove. After a short stay here, we started for Staten Land, where we 

 came to anchor on the 15th of September, in East Harbour.* 



I now took my brother, with the two boats well manned, and started 

 on a cruise around the island in search of fur seal. But this day's 

 cruise had wellnigh proved my last ; for in attempting to land, with 

 two of my boat's crew, an accident happened which threatened 

 fatal consequences both to them and myself. As a heavy swell was 

 rolling into the shore, I ordered the two men to land before me, con- 

 fident that I could gain the top of the rock before the next roller 

 came in. But here I unfortunately overrated my own agility, and 

 miscalculated the velocity of " the saucy billow," for before either 

 of us could obtain a good foothold, a very heavy roller, full fifteen 

 feet in height, came swiftly in, and swept all three of us off* the rock. 

 Being in the rear of my men, it struck me with much greater violence 

 than it did them, plunging me downwards with great velocity. I 

 struggled manfully with the gigantic assailant, but before I could clear 

 myself from the kelp and undertow, and rise again to the surface, I 

 had become so completely strangled with water that it was useless to 

 close mv mouth, as no more could enter it. 



During all this struggle my presence of mind did not once forsake 

 me. My thoughts flew like lightning over the actions of my past 

 life ; indeed, the rapidity with which I recalled every single transac- 

 tion of departed years is truly incredible. I reviewed the whole, but 

 among a mass of youthful follies I beheld no crime for which I could 

 condemn myself. Nothing troubled me but the idea of leaving my 

 little family so poorly provided for, and exposed to the insults and impo- 

 sitions of an unfeeling world. 



Perceiving that my strength was wasting very rapidly, I made a 

 desperate effort to swim off shore to my boat, which I saw just out- 

 side of the breakers, and near her the boat of my brother, who was 

 pulling in, and admonishing me at the same time, in a loud but cheer- 

 ful voice, to keep up my spirits for a minute or two longer, when he 

 would be able to reach and assist me. 



All my attempts to swim off shore were frustrated by the heavy 

 rollers, throwing me back towards the rocks. I therefore changed 

 my purpose, and made several trials to reach the shore ; but just as I 

 could almost touch the rocks which lined it, the undertow would take 



* See chapter iii. 



/ 



