32 



DRIVEN ON THE SAND BANKS. 



made a fire in order to cook a piece of beef for 

 supper. This scene was very wild : the boat lay- 

 sheltered in the creek^ among very tall rushes; 

 we had a blazing fire in the wood, and were all 

 squatted round it^ alternately watching the beef 

 stuck in the midst of the flames and smoke^ and 

 the weather, which appeared by no means to look 

 favourable. The wind began to rise, but conti- 

 nued fair; heavy rain came on, and we put on 

 board the gun-boat again to procure a gun- 

 match, in order to look at our compass ; for we 

 dared not carry a light, fearing we might be seen 

 by the privateers that are constantly hovering 

 about the place. 



On calculating the time of tide, at three in the 

 morning we started, and stood across for the 

 banks to keep out of their way; the wind and 

 rain increased, and we had not advanced many 

 miles before the boat struck several times on these 

 dangerous banks ; at length, by press of sail we 

 got her over. I sat with the compass between 

 my knees, anxiously watching our progress ; it 



