C 54 ) 
was {pent in fach coiiiultations ; and as the 
next fun was to light us to our fate, we 
trembled at Iiis approaching the horizon. 
When the day appeared, we looked to- 
wards thefiiore ; but not an individual was 
to be feen. Diftracrion w^as now vifible in 
every countenance, and what death to 
choofe the principal coniideration. 
At length, a.bout the hour of nine in the 
morning, the fcene changed in a moment. 
A delirium of extacy facceeded, which no 
pencil can portray, no being can conceive, 
but thofe who beheld it. Ail the people 
v/ho had landed the day before, were ob- 
ferved making tow^ards the flicre ; and we 
foon perceived thern beckoning and inviting 
us to land. In a few rninutes, every fpar, 
grating, and piece of timber that could be 
procured, w^ere afloat, and completely ocr 
cupied ; ibme with two people, others with 
more, according to its fize. I immediately 
iiript off my fiiirt, put on a fliort-jacket, 
wraDt a fliawl round mv w^aift, in the cer- 
ner of v/hich I put a gold v/atch, and, keep- 
ing my breeches on, feized a fpar, and 
launched into the fea. For nearly three 
quarters of an hour I preferved my hold, 
and drifted towards the fliore. Sometimes 
I was call: ib near, as to touch the rocks 
with my feet, then hurried away to a con- 
iiderable diftance ; ag;^n I was precipitated 
forward, and in a moment afterwards carri- 
ed off by the returnijig fea. At length a 
