LOSS OF THE PHOENIX. 425 
and when she is right before the wind, whip the clue garnet 
close up and roll up the sail." Sir, there is no canvass can 
stand against this a moment: if we attempt to loose him he 
will fly into ribbands in an instant, and we may lose three or 
four of our people ; she'll wear by manning the fore shrouds. 
" O, I don't think she will." I'll answer for it, sir ; I have 
seen it tried several times on the coast of America with suc- 
cess. " Well, try it ; if she does not wear, we can only loose 
the fore-sail afterward," This was a great condescension from 
such a man as Sir Hyde, However, by sending about two 
hundred people into the fore-rigging, after a hard struggle 
she wore ; found she did not make so good w^eather on this 
tack as on the other ; for as the sea began to run across, she 
had not time to rise from one sea before another dashed 
against her. Began to think we should lose our masts, as 
the ship lay very much along by the pressure of the wind 
constantly upon the yards and masts alone : for the poor 
mizen-stay-sail had gone in shreds long before, and the sails 
began to fly from the yards through the gaskets into coach 
whips. My God! to think that the wind could have such 
force ! 
Sir Hyde now sent me to see what was the matter between 
decks, as there was a good deal of noise. As soon as I was 
below, one of the marine officers calls out, " Good God ! Mr. 
Archer, we are sinking : the water is up to the bottom of my 
cot." Pooh, pooh ! as long as it is not over your mouth you 
are Avell off; what the d 1 do you make so much noise for ? 
I found there was some water between decks, but nothing to 
be alarmed at ; we scuttled the deck and run it into the well ; 
found she made a good deal of water through the sides and 
decks ; turned the watch below to the pumps, though only two 
feet of water in the well ; but expected to be kept constantly at 
work now, as the ship labored much, with scarcely a part of 
hex above water but the quarter-deck, and that but seldom. 
Come, pump away, my boys. Carpenters, get the weather 
chain-pump rigged. "All ready, sir." Then man it, and keep 
both pumps going. 
At two o'clock the chain-pump being choked, we set the 
carpenters at work to clear it ; the two head pumps at work 
upon deck ; the water gained upon us while our chain-pumps 
were idle ; in a quarter of an hour they were at work again, 
and we began to gain upon it. While I was standing at the 
pumps cheering the people, the carpenter's mate came run- 
ning to me with a face as long as my arm : O, sir ! the ship 
36* 
