LOSS, BY FIRE, OF THE PRINCE. 169 
This first adventure rendered me more cautious in future : 
I even shunned the dead bodies, which were so numerous 
that, to make a free passage, I was obliged to push them aside 
with one hand, while 1 kept myself above water with the other, 
I imagined that each of them was a man who would assured- 
ly seize and involve me in his own destruction. My strength 
began to fail, and I was convinced of the necessity of resting, 
when I met a piece of the flag-staff. To secure it, I put my 
arm through the noose of the rope, and swam as well as I was 
able. I perceived a yard floating before me, when I approached 
and seized it by the end. At the other extremity I sse\\ a young 
man scarcely able to support himself, and speedily relinquish- 
ed this feeble assistance that amounted to a certain death. The 
sprit-sail yard next appeared in sight ; it was covered with peo- 
ple, and I durst not take a place upon it v/ithout asking per- 
mission, which my unfortunate companions cheerfully granted. 
Some were quite naked, and others in their shirts ; they ex- 
pressed their pity at my situation, and their misfortune put my 
sensibility to the severest test. 
M. IMorin and M. de la Touche, both so worthy of a better 
fate, never quitted the vessel, and were doubtless buried in its 
ruins. Whichever way I turned my eyes the most dismal 
sights presented themselves. The main-mast, burnt away at 
the bottom, fell overboard, killing some, and affording to others 
a precarious resource. This mast I observed covered with 
people, and abandoned to the im.pulse of the waves ; at the 
same moment I perceived two sailors upon a hen-coop with 
some planks, and cried out to them, " My lads, bring the planks 
and swim to me." They approached me, accompanied by se- 
veral others ; and each taking a plank, which we used as oars, 
we paddled along upon the yard, and joined those who had 
taken possession of the main-mast. 
So many changes of situation presented only new specta- 
cles of horror. I fortunately here met with our chaplain, 
who gave me absolution. AVe were in number about eight]/ 
persons, who were incessantly threatened with destruction by 
the balls from the ship's guns. I saw likev/ise on the mast 
two young ladies, by whose piety I was much edifled; there 
were six females on iDoard, and the other four were, in all pro- 
bability, already drowned or burned. Our chaplain, in this 
dreadful situation, melted the most obdurate hearts by his dis- 
course and the example he gave of patience and resignation. 
Seeing him slip from the mast and fall into the sea as I was 
behind him., I lifted him up again. " Let me go, (said he,) 
15 
