378 SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA. 
An order, according to our numbers, was established for the 
distribution of our miserable provisions. The ration of wine 
was fixed at three quarters a day.* We will speak no more 
of the biscuit, it having been entirely consumed at the first 
distribution. The day passed away sufficiently tranquil. We 
talked of the means by which we would save ourselves ; we 
spoke of it as a certain circumstance, which reanimated our 
courage ; and we sustained that of the soldiers, by cherishing 
in them the hope of being able, in a short while, to revenge 
themselves on those who had so basely abandoned us. This 
hope of vengeance, it must be avowed, equally animated us 
all ; and we poured out a thousand imprecations against those 
who had left us a prey to so much misery and danger. 
The officer who commanded the raft being unable to move, 
M. Savigny took upon himself the duty of erecting the mast. 
He caused them to cut in two one of the poles of the frigate's 
masts, and fixed it with the rope which had served to tow us, 
and of which we made stays and shrowds. It was placed on 
tlie anterior third of the raft. We put up for a sail the main- 
top-gallant, which trimmed very well, but was of very little 
use, except when the wind served from behind ; and to keep 
the raft in this course, we w^ere obliged to trim the sail as if the 
breeze blew athwart us. 
In the evening, our hearts and our prayers, by a feeling 
natural to the unfortunate, were turned towards Heaven. 
Sutrounded by inevitable dangers, we addressed that invisible 
Being who has established, and who maintains the order of 
the universe. Our vows were fervent, and we experienced 
from our prayers the cheering influence of hope. It is ne- 
cessary -^to have been in similar situations, before one can 
rightly imagine what a charm it is to the heart of the sufferer, 
the sublime idea of God protecting the unfortunate ! 
One consoling thought still soothed our imagination. We 
persuaded ourselves that the little division had gone to the 
isle of Arguin, and that, after it had set a part of its people 
on shore, the rest would return to our assistance; we endea- 
vored to impress this idea on our soldiers and sailors, which 
quieted them. The night came without our hope being reali- 
zed ; the wind freshened, and the sea was considerably swell- 
ed. What a horrible night ! The thought of seeing the 
boats on the morrow a little consoled our men, the greater 
part of whom, being unaccustomed with the sea, fell on one 
* The original French is trots quarts, which certainly cannot mean 
ikree quarts ; in all probability it is three pints.— Trxnss. 
