t 
LOSS OF THE PHOENIX. 427 
believe, Archer; the ship is much pressed." If we attempt 
it, Sir, we shall lose them, for a man can do nothing ; beside, 
their being down would ease the ship very little ; the main- 
mast is a sprung mast ; I wish it was overboard without car- 
rying any thing else along with it ; but that can soon be done, 
the gale cannot last for ever ; 'twill soon be daylight now. 
Found by the master's watch that it was five o'clock, though 
but a little after four by ours ; I was glad it was so near day- 
light, and looked for it with much anxiety. Cuba, thou art 
much in our way ! Another ugly sea : sent a midshipman to 
bring news from the pumps ; the ship was gaining on them 
very much, for they had broken one of their chains, but it was 
almost mended again. News from the pump again. " She 
still gains I a heavy lee !'' Back-water from leeward, half way 
up the quarter deck ; filled one of the cutters upon the booms, 
and tore her all to pieces : the ship lying almost on her beam 
ends, and not attempting to right again. Word from below 
that the ship still gained on them, as they could not stand to 
the pumps, she lay so much along. I said to Sir Hyde : This 
is no time, Sir, to think of saving the masts, shall we cut the 
mainmast away? " Ay! as fast as you can." I accordingly 
went into the weather-chains with a pole-ax, to cut away the 
lanyards ; the boatswain went to leeward, and the carpenters 
stood by the masts. We were all ready, when a very violent 
sea broke right on board of us, carried everything upon deck 
away, filled the ship with water, the m.ain and mizen-masts 
went, the ship righted, but was in the last struggle of sinking 
under us. 
As soon as we could shake our heads above water, Sir 
Hyde exclaimed : " We are gone, at last, Archer ! foundered 
at sea!" Yes, Sir, farewell, and the Lord have mercy upon 
us I I then turned about to look at the ship, and thought she 
was struggling to get rid of some of the water ; but all in vain, 
she was almost fall below. " Almighty God ! I thank thee, 
that now I am leaving this world, which I have always con- 
sidered as only a passage to a better, I die with a full hope of 
thy mercies through the merits of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our 
Savior I" 
I then felt sorry that I could swim, as by that means I 
might be a quarter of an hour longer dying than a man who 
could not, and it is impossible to divest ourselves of a wish to 
preserve life. At the end of these reflections I thought I 
heard the ship thump and grinding under our feet ; it was so. 
Sir, the ship is ashore ! " What do you say?" The ship is 
