LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY. 183 
tuned me to attempt our deliverance in that way, offering him- 
self to accompany me, or, if I refused, to go alone. After de- 
liberate consideration we resolved upon a raft, but found great 
difficulty in clearing the fore-yard, of which it was chiefly to 
be made, from the junk, as our working hands were so few 
and weak. 
This done, we split the yard, and with the two parts made 
side-pieces, fixing others, and adding some of the largest planks 
we could find, first spiking, and afterward making them firm. 
The raft was four feet in breadth^ We fixed up a mast, and 
out of two hammocks that were driven on shore we made a 
sail, with a paddle for each man, and a spare one in case of 
necessity. This difficulty being thus surmounted, the Swede 
frequently asked me whether I designed to accompany him, 
giving me to understand that, if I declined, there was another 
ready to offer himself for the enterprise. 
About this time we saw a sail come out of Piscataqua river, 
about seven leagues to the westward. We again made all the 
signals we could, but the wind being north-west, and the ship 
standing to the eastward, she was presently out of sight, with- 
out ever coming near us, which proved an extreme mortifica- 
tion to our hopes. The next day, being moderate, with a small 
breeze right on shore in the afternoon, and the raft being 
wholly finished, the two men were very anxious to have it 
launched; but this was as strenuously opposed by the mate, 
because it was too late, being two in the afternoon. They, 
however, urged the lightness of the nights, begged me to suf- 
fer them to proceed, and I at length consented. They both 
got upon the raft, when the swell, rolling very high, soon 
overset them, as it did our boat. The Swede, not daunted by 
this accident, swam on shore, but the other, being no swim- 
mer, continued some time under water ; as soon as he appeared 
I caught hold of and saved him, but he was so discouraged 
that he was afraid to make a second attempt. I desired the 
Swede to wait a more favorable opportunity, but he continued 
resolute, begged me to go with him, or help him to turn the 
raft, and he would go alone. 
By this time another man came down and offered to adven- 
ture ; when they were upon the raft I launched them ofl^ they 
desiring us to go to prayers, and also to watch what became 
of them. I did so, and by sun«et judged them half way to the 
main, and supposed that they might reach the shore by two 
in the morning. They, however, probably fell in with some 
breakers, or were overset by the violence of the sea and pe- 
