t'^m TRAVELS IN 
fion camfc, whereby I might have a proper chance 
of taking meafures for fecuring a harbour or running 
from it. The high forefts behind me bent to the 
blaft ; and the fturdy limbs of the trees cracked. I 
had by this time got up abreaft of the grove or hom- 
mock : the hurricane clofe by, purfuing me, I found 
It dangerous and imprudent in the highefl degree to 
put in here, as the groves were already torn up, and 
the fpreading limbs of the ancient live oaks were 
flying over my head, and carried about in the air as 
leaves and ftubble. I ran by and boldly entered the 
lake (being hurried in by a ftrong current, which 
feemed a prodigy, the violent wind driving the ftream 
of the creek back again into the lake), and as fcon 
as pollible took ihelter under the high reedy bank of 
the lake, and made fall my bark to the boughs of a 
low (hrubby Hickory, that leaned over the water. 
Such was the violence of the wind, that it raifed the 
waters on the oppofite mores of the lake feveral feet 
perpendicular, and there was a rapid floW of water 
from the creek into it, which was contrary to its 
natural courfe. Such floods of rain fell during the 
fpace of half or three quarters of an hour, that my 
boat was filled, and I expected every moment when 
I mould fee her fink to the bottom of the lake ; and 
the violence of the wind kept the cable fo conftantly 
extended^ that it was beyond my ability to get to 
her. My box which contained my books of fpeci- 
mens and other collections, was floating about in 
her ; and for a great part of the time the rain came 
down with fuch rapidity and fell in fuch quantities, 
that every objed was totally obicured, excepting the 
continual ftreams or rivers of lightning, pouring 
from the. clouds. All feemed a frightful chaos* 
When the wind and rain abated, I was overjoyed to 
fee the face of nature again appear. 
It 
