LOSS OF THE ROTHSAY CAStLE. 99 
in it. The captain talked a great deal after the meal, hut it 
did not strike me particularly at the time. He was compli- 
menting two young ladies upon their good seamanship, and I 
was so struck with the sweet tones of their voices, and their 
pure diction, as well as the sensible nature of their remarks, 
that I made an effort to see them, notwithstanding the aug- 
mentation of sickness by the slightest movement. They were 
both interesting looking persons — had on black silk dresses, 
and I think straw bonnets. One or two other ladies joined 
them in our cabin after nightfall ; but I suppose the greater 
portion of the females were in their own cabin. 
The captain did not remain altogether below; on one oc- 
casion, when he was below, he was asked when he should be 
in, but he gave no definite answer. The night was drawing 
on apace, and I heard that we were still twelve miles from 
the Ormstead, and going only three miles an hour, which 
was ascribed to the unfavorable tide and head wind. 
But I hasten to the more disastrous and fatal part of our 
voyage. Little was I thinking of such an event, when about 
twelve o'clock, on awaking from a temporary doze, I felt a 
shock as if the vessel had grounded; I immediately sprung 
up, and with the other passengers hurried on deck. All 
seemed a scene of confusion, and there was no obtaining any 
information about what had happened to us. The vessel, with 
her head toAvard Puffin Island, continued to beat, but, as ap- 
peared to me, only forward. Shortly, however, she began to 
strike both fore and aft, and at last we were completely 
aground, and almost incapable of advancing. The concus- 
sion continued, as if warnings of our impending fate, and our 
alarm kept pace with these dismal forebodings. 
I was going into the cabin, but found the way stopped by 
ladies sitting on the steps. I therefore returned to one of the 
benches on the poop, two or three ladies being beside me, 
much agitated. 
The gentlemen Avere then ordered forward, with a view to 
lighten the vessel astern, while the engine was kept working; 
each stroke of the wheels, however, seemed like the expiring 
ticking of a watch, and we made no way. I succeeded a per- 
son in ringing the bell. This station I occupied for twenty 
minutes or more. The individual who succeeded me, how- 
ever, lost the tongue, and they were then obliged to take a 
piece of wood instead of it ; the feelings of despair which I 
thought actuated this, sunk deeply into my soul, and, low as 
each rap v/as, it sounded like the de^tlx^kqeU of us all. 
