LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY. 179 
the fore mast, moving gradually forward betwixt every sea, 
till at last quitting it, I threw myself with all the strength I 
had toward the rock ; but it being low water, and the rock 
extremely slippery, I could get no hold, and tore my fingers, 
hands, and arms in the most deplorable manner, every wash 
of the sea fetching me off again, so that it was with the ut- 
most peril and difficulty that I got safe on shore at last. The 
rest of the men ran the same hazards, but, through the mercy 
of Providence, we all escaped with our lives. 
After endeavoring to discharge the salt water, and creeping 
a little way up the rock, I heard the voices of the three men 
above mentioned, and by ten o'clock we all met together, 
when, with grateful hearts, we returned humble thanks to 
Providence for our deliverance from such imminent danger. 
We then endeavored to gain shelter to the leeward of the 
rock, but found it so small and inconsiderable that it Avould 
afford none, (being about one Imndred yards long and fifty 
broad,) and so very craggy that we could not walk to keep 
ourselves warm, the Aveather still continuing extremely cold, 
with snow and rain. 
As soon as daylight appeared I went toward the place 
where we came on shore, not doubting but that we should 
meet w*ith provisions enough from the Avreck for our support, 
but found only some pieces of the masts and yards among 
some old junk and cables congered together, w^hich the an- 
chors had prevented from being carried away, and kept mo- 
ving about the rock at some distance. Part of the ship's 
stores, with some pieces of plank and timber, old sails, can- 
vass, &c. drove on shore, but nothing eatable, excepting some 
small pieces of cheese which we picked up among the rock- 
weed, in the Avhole to the quantity of three small cheeses. 
We used our utmost endeavors to get fire, having a steel 
and flint v>'ith us, and also by a drill with a very swift motion ; 
but having nothing but what had long been water-soaked, all 
our attempts proved ineffectual. 
At night we stowed one upon another, under our canvass, 
m the best manner possible, to keep each other warm. The 
next day the weather clearing a little, and inclining to frost, I 
went out, and perceiving the main land, I knew where we 
were, and encouraged my men with the hope of being disco- 
vered by fishing shallops, desiring them to search for and 
bring up what planks, carpenter's tools, and stores they could 
find, in order to build a tent and a boat. The cook then com- 
plained that he was almost starved, and his countenance dis- 
