LOSS OF THE ROTHSAY CASTLE. 103 
were rapidly giving way under us. The side plank next the 
railing first split and yawned asunder, and then we sunk with 
the deck to the level of the sea. Another wave sent the 
loose pieces asunder, and immediately I found myself afloat. 
I first caught hold of the extremity of the mast, my feet rest- 
ing on what I supposed to be an iron stanchion, accidentally 
attached to it. Pressing close against me were Jones, the 
steward, and his wife, and I think I heard the cries of a child. 
On looking about, I saw S — and L — close to me. I spoke 
to them, and Avas answered by the latter, that they were on 
some loose pieces of timber. They were sitting on them, 
leaning on one hand. At this moment I perceived the stew- 
ard's wife struggling to keep her hold, and nearly exhausted ; 
whilst her husband was encouraging her to keep up her spi- 
rits. Fearing they might catch hold of me, and finding I had 
not enough of the mast to rest upon, I relinquished it alto- 
gether, and after swimming a few strokes, scrambled upon 
some pieces of timber. There were two persons on the same 
fragments of the wreck, w4iom I supposed to be L — and S — , 
but I did not speak to them. I could perceive eight or nine 
persons on a large raft a little before us, but there was no time 
to look about, as I had continually to prepare myself for the 
waves, which were frequently dashing over me, and to ward 
off loose pieces of the wreck. A blow on the head, from one 
of these masses, had already stunned me for a moment, which 
warned me of this additional danger. Afraid of a repetition, 
I crawled to the end of my raft and clung to a spar. My 
sight became dim with the spray; but I could perceive a 
large wave rolling toward me, bearing on its top an over- 
whelming piece of wreck. I expected momentarily to be 
struck by it: but the water passed harmless over my head. 
I then looked behind me and found I was alone. The same 
piece, perhaps, which passed over me without harm, had 
swept my companions from their places. 
So long as I retained my recollection and consciousness 
distinctly, I was in like manner buffeting the waves. Once 
or twice I raised myself to look for the land, but it seemed 
far from me, and my sight was fast leaving me, till I fell into 
a stupor. I -was not aware of the boat coming up to me, but 
recollect the struggle of scrambling into it. iVly first effort 
was to seize an oar, thinking that I was to aid in the common 
Kifet^r. It was taken from me, however, and I was put in the 
bottom of the boat. One of the men kindly shared with me a 
part of his clothes. On landing, I was able, supported on 
