396 
TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. 
US. We had eaten nothing since the morning, and had 
had plenty to do and to think of, to prevent our being 
hungry ; but now, as the evening air began to get cool 
and pleasant, we all found we had very good appetites, 
and supped well on biscuits and water. 
We then had to make our arrangements for the night. 
Our mooring ropes had been burnt, and we were thus 
cast adrift from the ship, and were afraid of getting out 
of sight of it during the night, and so missing any vessel 
which might chance to be attracted by its light. A 
portion of the masts and rigging were floating near the 
ship, and to this we fastened our boats ; but so many 
half-burnt spars and planks were floating about us, as to 
render our situation very perilous, for there was a heavy 
swell, and our boats might have been in an instant stove 
in by coming in contact with them. 
We therefore cast loose again, and kept at a distance 
of a quarter or half a mile from the ship by rowing when 
requisite. We were incessantly baling the whole night. 
Ourselves and everything in the boats were thoroughly 
drenched, so we got little repose : if for an instant we 
dozed ofi* into forgetfulness, we soon woke up again to 
the realities of our position, and to see the red glare 
which our burning vessel cast over us. It was now a 
magniflcent spectacle, for the decks had completely 
burnt away, and as it heaved and rolled with the swell 
of the sea, presented its interior towards us filled with 
liquid flame, — a fiery furnace tossing restlessly upon the 
ocean. 
At length morning came ; the dangers of the night 
were past, and with hopeful hearts we set up our little 
