LOSS OF THE PHOENIX. 421 
was I, from being worth thousands in idea, reduced to the old 
4s. 6d. per day again; for the little doctor made the most 
prize money of us all that day, by winning th^ oag, which 
contained between thirty and forty dollars ; but this is nothing 
to what we sailors undergo. 
After parting company, we steered S. S. E. to go round 
Antonio, and so to Jamaica, (our cruise being out,) with our 
fingers in our mouths, and all of us as green as you please. 
It happened to be my middle Avatch, and about three o'clock, 
when the man upon the forecastle bawls out, " Breakers 
ahead, and land upon the lee bow!" I looked out, and it was 
so, sure enough. " Ready about ! Put the helm down ! Helm 
a lee !" Sir Hyde hearing me put the ship about, jumped upon 
deck. " Archer, what's the matter 1 you are putting the ship 
about without my orders!" Sir, 'tis time to go about; the 
ship is almost ashore ; there is the land. " Good God, so it is ! 
AVill the ship stay?" Yes, sir, I believe she will, if we don't 
make any confusion ; she is all aback — forward now ? " Well, 
(says he,) work the ship ; I will not speak a single word." 
The ship stayed very well. Then heave the lead ! see what 
water we have ! " Three fathom." Keep the ship away, 
W. N. W. " By the mark three." " This won't do. Archer." 
No, sir, we had belter haul more to the northward ; we c^^'^e 
S. S. E. and had better steer N. N. W. "Steady, and a 
quarter three." This may do, as we deepen a little. " By 
the deep four." Very well, my lad, heave quick. " Five 
fathom." That's a fine fellow ! another cast nimbly. " Quar- 
ter less eight." That will do ; come, we shall get clear by 
and by. " Mark under water five." What's that ? " Only- 
five fathom, sir." Turn all hands up; bring the ship to an 
anchor, boy! Are the anchors clear? "In a moment, sir — 
all clear." What water have you in the chains now ? " Eight, 
half nine." Keep fast the anchors till I call you. " Ay, 
ay, sir, all fast." " I have nO ground with this line." How 
many fathoms have you out ? pass along the deep-sea line ! 
"Ay, ay, sir." Heave away — watch! watch! bear away, 
veer away. " No ground, sir, with a hundred fathom." 
That's clever! Come, Madam Phcenix, there is another squeak 
in you yet. All down but the watch; secure the anchors 
again ; heave the maintop-sail to the mast ; luff, and bring 
her to the wind ! 
I told you, Madam, you should have a little sea jargon ; if 
yOu can understand half of what is already said, I wonder at 
it, though it is nothing to what is to come yet, when the old 
36 
