SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA, 313 
remained between two enormous pieces of wood, whilst tlie 
rest of his body was hid in the sea. After more than two 
hours of suffering, Captain Dupont spoke in a low voice to 
his lieutenant, who by chance was seated near the place of 
concealment. The brave L'Heureux, his eyes glistening with 
tears, believed that he heard the voice and saw the shade of his 
captain, and trembling, was about to quit the place of hor- 
ror : but, O wonderful ! he saw a head which seemed to draw 
its last sigh, he recognized it, he embraced it — alas ! it was 
his dear friend ! Dupont was instantly draw from the water, 
and L'Heureux obtained for his unfortunate comrade again 
a place upon the raft. Those Avho had been so inveterate 
against him, touched at what Providence had done for him in 
so miraculous a manner, decided, with one accord, to allow 
him entire liberty upon the raft. 
The sixty unfortunates who had escaped from the first 
massacre, were soon reduced to fifty, then to forty, and at 
last to twenty-eight. The least murmur, or the smallest 
complaint, at the moment of distributing the provisions, was 
a crime punished with immediate death. In consequence of 
such a regulation, it may easily be presumed the raft was 
soon lightened. In the meanwhile the wine diminished sen- 
sibly, and the half rations very much displeased a certain 
chief of the conspiracy. On purpose to avoid being reduced 
to that extremity, the executive foicer decided it was much 
wiser to drown thirteen people, and to get full rations, than that 
twenty-eight should have half rations. Merciful Heaven ! 
what sharhel After the last catastrophe, the chiefs of the 
conspiracy, fearing doubtless of being assassinated in their 
turn, threw all the arms into the sea, and swore an inviolable 
friendship with the heroes which the hatchet had spared. 
On the 17th of July, in the morning. Captain Parnajon, com- 
mandant of the Argus brig, still found fifteen men on the raft. 
They Avere immediately taken on board, and conducted to 
Senegal. Four of the fifteen are yet alive, viz. Captain Du- 
pont, residing in the neighborhood of Maintenon, Lieutenant 
L'Heureux, since captain at Senegal, Savigny, at Rochefort, 
and Correard, I know not where. 
On the 5lh of July, at ten in the morning, one hour after 
abandoning the raft^ and three after quitting the Medusa, M. 
Laperere, the officer of our boat, made the first distribution 
of provisions. Each passenger had a small glass of water 
and nearly the fourth of a biscuit. Each drank his allow- 
ance of water at one draught, but it wai "" ' ' • 
27 
