302 SHIPWRECK OF THB MEDUSA. 
barrels were emptied and placed at the angles of the machine, 
and the workmen were taught to say that the passenger* 
would be in greater security there, and more at their ease, 
than in the boats. However, as it was forgotten to erecl 
rails, every one supposed, and with reason, that those who 
had given the plan of the raft, had no design of embarking 
upon it themselves. 
When it was completed, the two chief officers of the fri- 
gate publicly promised, that all the boats would tow it to the 
shores of the Desert ; and, when there, stores of provisions 
and fire-arms would be given us to form a caravan to take us 
all to Senegal. Why was not this plan executed ? Why were 
these promises, sworn before the French flag, made in vain ? 
But it is necessary to draw a veil over the past. I will only 
add, that if these promises had been fulfilled, every one would 
have been saved, and that, in spite of the detestable egotism 
of certain personages, humanity would not now have had to 
deplore the scenes of horror consequent on the wreck of the 
Medusa ! 
On the third of July the efforts were renewed to disengage 
the frigate, but without success. We then prepared to quit 
her. The sea became very rough, and the wind blew with 
great violence. Nothing now was heard but the plaintive 
and confused cries of a multitude, consisting of more than 
four hundred persons, who, seeing death before their eyes, de- 
plored their hard fate in bitter lamentations. On the 4th 
there was a glimpse of hope. At the hour the tide flowed, 
the frigate, being considerably lightened by all that had been 
thrown overboard, was found nearly afloat ; and it is very 
certain, if on that day they had thrown the artillery into the 
water, the Medusa would have been saved ; but M. Lachaur 
mareys said he could not thus sacrifice the king's cannon, as 
if the frigate did not belong to the king also. However, the 
sea ebbed, and the ship sinking into the sand deeper than 
ever, made them relinquish that on which depended our last 
ray of hope. 
On the approach of night the fury of the winds redoubled, 
and the sea became very rough. The frigate then received 
some tremendous concussions, and the water rushed into the 
hold in the most terrific manner, but the pumps would not 
work. We had now no akernative but to abandon her for the 
frail boats, which any single w^ave would overwhelm. Fright- 
ful gulfs environed us ; mountains of water raised their li- 
quid summits in the distance. How were we to escape so 
