152 
MADAGASCAR. 
heavy swells dragged the anchor every now and then. 
Soon after six o’clock, however, a slight breeze sprang 
up off shore, all sail was set, and we began slowly to 
creep away. I thought we were safe then; but in a 
very few minutes (even then we were only about a 
ship’s length from the breakers) it fell calm, then the 
wind came from the N.E. Unfortunately the ship’s 
head was pointing the wrong way to take the wind, and 
I saw at once that nothing but a miracle could save us 
from going ashore. We dressed as quickly as possible, 
but had barely got on our clothes when the first bump 
came, then another, and another. We went ashore 
stern first, as the captain was trying to wear the ship, 
and had just got her half-way round, when, however, 
the stern stuck fast, the anchor (which had been let go) 
soon broke, and we went broadside on. The ship was 
on a sandbank about sixty yards or so from shore: 
luckily there was not much sea, but the usual ocean 
swell was rather heavy. We were told to go forward 
to the forecastle, where all the crew were, and wait until 
something could be done to get us ashore. It was 
rather an anxious time until the topmast went, but then 
the ship was lighter, and something could be done. 
The long-boat was broken by the fallen mast, so the 
first idea was that some one should take a rope ashore 
and so tow the small boat in. ISTone of the sailors 
could swim much, so I tried ; but the cross currents 
were so strong that I could not manage it, and was 
obliged to be pulled back, very much done up. Finally 
the boat was got ashore, and a rope fastened to each 
end of it, one on board and one on shore; and in this 
way, two at a time, we all reached land safely. It was 
pouring with rain, so that we were pretty well drenched. 
