LOSS OF A JAMAICA SLOOP. 253 
" The pilot, a poor helpless old fellow, and a boy, were the 
only persons left with me ; they had divided the provisions, 
and left me such a share as they thought fit, hardly equal to 
theirs, and prepared for their journey by every man packing 
up his little bundle. I began seriously to reflect and con- 
sider with myself what course to take, having, since our at- 
tempt to go out of the river, found a very sensible alteration in 
my leg for the better, which I made no show of, but limped 
as before, in hopes my lameness would have induced them 
not to have left me in that helpless condition ; but when I sav/ 
they kept to their resolution, and even took the ax with them, 
which was all we had to trust to, to keep us from starving, I 
halted after the man who had the ax, and desired he would 
let me have it, but found him inflexible. I then endeavored to 
force it from him, but he calling others to his assistance, pre- 
vented my taking it. 
" I knev/ that about eight miles distant was the great river 
of Remain, which they must pass to go to Plantain river ; and 
considered that when they saw it, if I went with them, by my 
pointing out the hazard and difficulty to get over it, I might 
persuade them to return ; and therefore took up my bundle 
and followed them. When we came in sight of the river, I 
found it very broad, and a rapid stream ; the people began im- 
mediately to cut down some dry trees, in ord«r to make a float 
to pass over it, and the meanwhile I sat down on the bank 
with one of them, who had been lately sick, and had no great 
relish for the journey. As we were viewing the breadth of 
the river and the swiftness of the stream, I took the opportu- 
nity to represent the great difficulty and danger which attend- 
ed the passing it, and that we should be driven out of the ri- 
ver's mouth before it was possible for us to reach the oppo- 
site shore ; that we had not only that river to pass, but seve- 
ral more such before we came to Plantain river, and many 
other difficulties to encounter ; therefore I thought we had bet- 
ter return to the canoe, and wait a few days for a favorable 
opportunity to put to sea, in which we could not possibly run 
a quarter part of the risk and danger we were throwing our- 
S3lves into. This man being feeble and tired, lent an open ear 
to all I said, and communicated it to the rest of the people. 
They having already tired themselves by cutting down trees, 
the ax being dull, and having not yet provided a quarter part 
wanted for making the float, began to listen to the man, and 
think there was some reason in what he said ; upon which 
they greAV more serious, and retired into the woods out of my 
22 
