there came on a terrible gale of wind which dismasted us; and for three
weeks we were rolling about gunnel under, for we were very heavily
laden, and we lost our reckoning. At last we found out that we had been
blown down among the reefs to the southward of the Bahama Isles. We had
at one time rigged jury-masts, but unfortunately the gale had blown up
again, and carried them also over the side; and we had no means of doing
anything, for we had no more small spars or sails, and all our hopes
were of falling in with some vessel which might assist us.

"'But we had no such good fortune; and one morning, when a heavy sea was
running, we discovered that it was bearing us down upon a reef of rocks,
from which there was no chance of escape. We had no resource but to get
the boats out, and take our chance in them. The captain was very cool
and collected; he ordered everything in which might be requisite; called
up the men, and explained to them his intentions. All the water and
provisions were put into the launch, for the sea ran so high that the
small boats could not carry them; and it was intended that all the boats
should keep company till it moderated, and then each boat should have
its own supply. When all was ready, we were _told off_ to our respective
boats. The steward and his wife were to be in the same boat with me, and
I had put her carefully in the sternsheets, for I was her great friend.
Now the steward was called out by the captain to go for something which
had been forgotten; and while he was away the ship was struck by a heavy
sea, which occasioned such a breach over her that all was in confusion,
and, to prevent the small boats from swamping, they were pushed off. The
launch still held on for the captain, who hastened in with the mate and
the steward, for they were the only three left on board; and away we all
went. I mention this as the cause why the steward was separated (only
for a time, as we supposed) from his wife. We had not been clear of the
ship more than five minutes before we found that we, in our boat, could