of John Cockburn 9 &c. 207 

 any Attempts upon me ; on the contrary, as 

 foon as they heard the Patting of my Feet 

 on the Sand, they would make off with great 

 Precipitation into the Water. This River, 

 which I was now about to crofs, was very 

 full of them ; but, I thank God, none eve r 

 hurt me. In fwimming over this Rfver, I 

 miraculoufly efcaped drowning ; for the 

 Current ran with fuch Force-, as drove me 

 out a great Way to Sea among Rocks and 

 Breakers, where I lay beating and dafliing 

 about a confiderable Time ; and in that Con- 

 dition, could not poflibly preferve my Nets 

 and Bull-hide-Cafe, which held my Fire- 

 works, my Knife, and what other fmall Im- 

 plements I had, befides my Provifion. All 

 thefe therefore I loft ; but it was my good 

 Fortune, after all this, to get fafe on Shore 

 on the other Side the River ; where being 

 again on my Feet, I reflected on the Lois I 

 had juft fuftain'd, by which all that I had 

 to depend on in this World was gone, and 

 fell into the utmoft Sorrow and Defpair. I 

 bethought myfelf now, that I could have 

 no more Fires, either for my Conveniency 

 or Defence ; in ftiort, the Apprehenfion of 

 the dilmal Calamities, that muft unavoida- 

 bly 



