304 SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA. 
a great part of the crew and various passengers were secretly 
preparing to set off in the boats. A conduct so perfidious 
could not fail to alarm us, especially as we perceived among 
those so eager to embark unknown to us, several who had 
promised, but a little while before, not to go without us. 
M. Schmaltz, to prevent that which was going on upon 
deck, instantly rose to endeavor to quiet their minds ; but the 
soldiers had already assumed a threatening attitude, and, hold- 
ing cheap the words of their commander, swore they would 
fire upon whosoever attempted to depart in a clandestine man- 
ner. The firmness of these brave men produced the desired 
effect, and all was restored to order. The governor returned 
to his cabin, and those who were desirous of departing fur- 
tively were confused and covered with shame. The gover- 
nor, however, was ill af ease ; and as he had heard very dis- 
tinctly certain energetic words which had been addressed to 
him, he judged it proper to assemble a council. All the 
officers and passengers being collected, M. Schmaltz there 
solemnly swore before them not to abandon the raft, and a se- 
cond time promised that all the boats would tow it to the 
shore of the desert, where they would all be formed into a 
caravan. I confess this conduct of the governor greatly sa- 
tisfied every member of our family; for we never dreamed he 
would deceive us, nor act in a manner contrary to what he 
had promised. 
About three in the morning, some hours after the meeting 
of the council, a terrible noise was heard in the powder-room ; 
it was the helm which was broken. All who were sleeping 
were roused by it. On going on deck every one was more 
and more convinced that the frigate was lost beyond all re- 
covery. Alas ! the wreck was, for our family, the commence- 
ment of a horrible series of misfortunes. The two chief offi- 
cers then decided, with one accord, that all should embark at 
six in the morning, and abandon the ship to the mercy of the 
waves. After this decision followed a scene the most whim- 
sical, and at the same time the most melancholy that can be 
well conceived. To have a more distinct idea of it, let the 
reader transport himself in imagination to the midst of the 
liquid plains of the ocean ; then let him picture to himself a 
multitude of all classes, of every age, tossed about at the 
mercy of the waves upon a dismasted vessel, foundered, and 
half submerged ; let him not forget these are thinking beings, 
with the certain prospect before them of having reached the 
goal of their existence. 
