30 i 



the tide fervlog, we again flood out to . fea j 

 the captain affuring me that we ftill had fufft- 

 eient time to reach Berbifche by fun-fet. 

 Knowing her talent for failing, I had ftrong 

 doubts of this ; but did not deem it wife to 

 difcourage the commander by condemning his 

 vefleL The fa£t probably, would, too foon 

 explain itfelf. 



The wind was not in our favor, and on 

 my fir ft venturing to afk how we came on, 

 I learned that we were about half a league 

 further from port than when we were lying 

 at anchor. Still I was enough a failor to have 

 this explained to my fatisfacYion, by the ob- 

 fervation that it was neceffary tojland well out, 

 In order to fetch the river upon the next tack. 

 But very foon after, on attempting to bring 

 the vefel about, new perplexities arofe. The 

 Voltigeur difobeyed the helm, and would not 

 veer to the wind. In the failor's language, (he 

 would neither tack nor wear, but remained 

 fixed like a log upon the water. I flood 

 equally fixed, obferving all that parTed, with- 

 out hazarding a fyllable of remark ; for, how- 

 ever bad a veffel may be, and however much 

 her captain may abufe her, himfelf, ftill every 



