SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA. 301 
was heard upon deck. All declared they saw sand rolling 
among the ripple of the sea. The captain in an instant or- 
dered to sound. The line gave eighteen fathoms ; but on a 
second sounding it only gave six. He at last saw his error, 
and hesitated no longer on changing his route, but it was too 
late. A strong concussion told us the frigate had struck. 
Terror and consternation were instantly depicted on every 
face. The crew stood motionless ; the passengers in utter 
despair. In the midst of this general panic, cries of ven- 
geance were heard against the principal author of our misfor- 
tunes, wishing to throw him overboard ; but some generous 
persons interposed, and endeavored to calm their spirits by 
diverting their attention to the means of our safety. The 
confusion was already so great, that M. Poinsignon, command- 
ant of a troop, struck my sister Caroline a severe blow, doubt- 
less thinking it was one of his soldiers. At this crisis my fa- 
ther was buried in profound sleep, but he quickly awoke, the 
cries and the tumult upon deck having informed him of our 
misfortunes. He poured out a thousand reproaches on those 
whose ignorance and boasting had been so disastrous to us. 
However, they set about the means of averting our danger. 
The officers, with an altered voice, issued their orders, expect- 
ing every moment to see the ship go in pieces. They strove 
to lighten her, but the sea was very rough and the current 
strong. Much time was lost in doing nothing ; they only 
pursued half measures, and all of them unfortunately failed. 
When it was discovered that the danger of the Medusa was 
not so great as was at first supposed, various persons propos- 
ed to transport the troops to the island of Arguin, which was 
conjectured to be not far from the place where we lay aground. 
Others advised to take us all successively to the coast of the 
desert of Sahara by the means of our boats, and with pro- 
visions sufficient to form a caravan, to reach the island of St. 
Louis, at Senegal. The events which afterward ensued 
proved this plan to have been the best, and which would have 
been crowned with success ; unfortunately it was not adopt- 
ed. M. Sehmahz, the governor, suggested the making of a 
raft of sufficient size to carry two hundred men, with pro- 
visions : which latter plan was seconded by the tw^o officers 
of the frigate, and put in execution. 
The fatal raft was then begun to be constructed, which 
would, they said, carry provisions for every one. Masts, 
planks, boards, cordage, were thrown overboard. Two offi- 
cers were charged with the framing of these together. Large 
26 
