244 LOSS OF A JAMAICA SLOOP. 
and then eleven ; and about three o'clock we had but ten, and 
quickly after nine fathom, which made me afraid we should 
be drove on shore by daylight. I looked on my draught 
of those seas, which laid down several ledges of rocks and 
shoals, and expected nothing less than to be thrown on some 
of them every moment, where we could expect nothing but 
immediate death. This, I must confess, was a melancholy 
prospect ; the tedious hours went heavily away, wishing and 
longing for the day in hopes to see some island or harbor 
where we might save the vessel and our lives. We had less 
water every cast of the lead, and were come into eight fa- 
thom when the day appeared, the sight of which revived our 
sinking spirits, and gave us some hopes of deliverance; but, 
alas ! when it was light, that we could see about us, we found 
ourselves near the shore. The storm continuing, and the wind 
blowing right upon it, by this time had drove us into less than 
seven fathom water; then set the fore-sail, to try if the vessel 
would bear it, or must soon have been drove ashore. Made 
hard shift to carry it, and gathered again ojff the land into 
eight fathom. 
" The land was very remarkable in several places ; and 
seeing an opening which looked like an harbor, or large river, 
I took notice of it to my pilot, and inquired of him if he knew 
it ; he confessed he did not ; and having no one on board ac- 
quainted in those seas, except himself, were entirely at a loss. 
I called all the seam.en together, and asked their opinionsi, 
whether they were willing to run the risk of their lives, and 
venture for the place which Vv^e saw look so like an harbor, 
and perhaps might find water enough to go in. They all an- 
swered they were willing to submit to any thing I thought 
proper. I had thoughts of venturing, but considered it was a 
shoal coast, and that it was the highest probability there was 
not water enough for the vessel ; and if there was not, and 
she should touch the ground, she would quickly be in pieces ; 
and the strength of the current runing out of the river, as it 
appeared to be, would force us into the sea again, and then 
all must inevitably perish. Upon these considerations I chose 
rather to run the risk of the wind's easing or changing, or that 
probably we might discover a small island as we stood along 
shore, where we might anchor and be preserved. 
" Having set our fore-sail as above mentioned, we gathered 
a little off the shore, and withal deepened our water till about 
ten o'clock, and were again got into nine fathom: but the 
land stretching more to the eastward, soon began to shoal qui 
