316 SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDFSA. 
appeared, and gave place to the most gloomy obscurity. The 
surface of the ocean presented all the signs of a coming tem- 
pest. The horizon, on the side of the Desart, had the appear- 
ance of a long hideous chain of mountains piled on one an- 
other, the summits of which seemed to vomit fire and smoke. 
Blueish clouds, streaked with a dark copper color, detached 
themselves from that shapeless heap, and came and joined 
with those which floated over our heads. In less than half 
an hour the ocean seemed confounded with the terrible sky 
which canopied us. The stars were hid. Suddenly a fright- 
ful noise was heard from the west, and all the waves of the 
sea rushed to founder our frail bark. A fearful silence suc- 
ceeded to the general consternation. Every tongue was mute; 
and none durst communicate to his neighbor the horror with 
which his mind was impressed. At intervals the cries of the 
children rent our hearts. At that instant a weeping and ago- 
nized mother bared her breast to her dying child, but it yield- 
ed nothing to appease the thirst of the little innocent who 
pressed it in vain. O night of horrors ! what pen is capable 
to paint thy terrible picture f How describe the agonizing 
fears of a father and mother at the sight of their children toss- 
ed about and expiring of hunger in a small boat, which the 
winds and waves threatened to ingulf at every instant ! Hav- 
ing full before our eyes the prospect of inevitable death, we 
gave ourselves up to our unfortunate condition, and addressed 
our prayers to Heaven. The winds growled with the utmost 
fury ; the tempestuous waves arose exasperated. In their ter- 
rific encounter a mountain of water was precipitated into our 
boat, carrying away one of the sails and the greater part of 
the effects which the sailors had saved from the Medusa. Our 
bark was nearly sunk ; the females and the children lay roll- 
ing in its bottom, drinking the waters of bitterness ; and their 
cries, mixed with the roaring of the waves and the furious 
north wind, increased the horrors of the scene. My unfortu- 
nate father then experienced the most excruciating agony of 
mind. The idea of the loss which the shipwreck had occa- 
sioned to him, and the danger which still menaced all he held 
dearest in the world, plunged him into a deep swoon. The 
tenderness of his wife and children recovered him ; but, alas ! 
his recovery was to still more bitterly deplore the wretched 
situation of his family. He clasped as to his bosom ; he bathed 
us with his tears, and seemed as if he was regarding us with 
his last looks of love. 
Every soul in the boat was seized with the same perturbs- 
