51 
wards the shore; but not an individual was 
to be seen. Distraction was now visible 
in every countenance, and what death to 
choose the principal consideration. 
At length, about the hour of nine in the 
morning, the scene changed in a moment. 
A delirium of ecstasy succeeded, which no 
pencil can pourtray, no being can conceive, 
but those who beheld it. All the people 
who had landed the day before were ob- 
served making towards the shore ; and we 
soon perceived them beckoning and inviting 
us to land. In a few minutes every spar, 
grating, and piece of timber that could be 
procured, were afloat, and completely oc- 
cupied ; some with two people, others with 
more, according to its size. I immediately 
stript off my shirt, put on a short jacket, 
wrapt a shawl round my waist, in the cor- 
ner of which I put a gold watch, and keep- 
ing my breeches on, seized a spar, and 
launched into the sea. For nearly three 
quarters of an hour I preserved my hold, 
and drifted towards the shore. Sometimes 
I was cast so near as to touch the rocks 
with my feet, then hurried away to a con- 
E 2 
