Boon Island - Kenneth Roberts [19]
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easily imagin'd was Life from the Dead; how great our Joys and Satisfaction were, at the prospect of so speedy and unexpected deliverance, no tongue is able to express, nor thoughts to conceive.
Our good and welcome friends came to an Anchor to the South West, at about 100 Yards distance, (the Swell not suffering them to come nearer) but their anchor coming home, oblig'd them to stand off 'till about noon, waiting for smoother water upon the Flood: Mean Time our passions were differently mov'd, our Expectations of Deliverance, and fears of miscarriage, hurry'd our weak and disorder'd spirits strangely.
I give them account of our miseries in every respect, except the want of Provisions (which I did not mention, least I shou'd not get them on shore for fear of being constrain'd by the Weather to tarry with us): Earnestly entreating them to attempt our immediate deliverance; or at least (if possible) to furnish us with fire, which with the utmost hazard and difficulty they at last accomplished, by sending a small Cannoe with one Man, who with abundance of labour got on shore.
After helping him up with his Canoe, and seeing nothing to eat, I ask'd him if he cou'd give us Fire, he answer'd in the affirmative, but was so affrighted, (seeing me look so thin and meagre) that could hardly at first return me an answer: But recollecting himself, after several questions asked on both sides, he went with me to the Tent, where was surpriz'd to see so many of us in so deplorable condition.
Our flesh so wasted, and our looks so ghastly and frightful, that it was really a very dismal Prospect.
With some difficulty we made a fire, determined to go my self with the man on board, and after to send for the rest one or two at a time, and accordingly got both into the Canoe, but the Sea immediately drove it with such violence against the Rock, that overset us into the water; and I being very weak, 'twas a great
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while before cou'd recover my self, so that I had a very narrow excape from drowning.
The good man with very great difficulty, got on board himself without me, designing to return the next day with better conveniences if weather wou'd permit.
'Twas a very uncomfortable sight to see our worthy friends in the Shallop stand away for the shore without us: But God who orders all our affairs (by unseen movements) for the best, had doubtless designs of preservation towards us, in denying us that appearance of present deliverance: For that night the wind coming about to South-East, blowing hard and being dark weather, our good friends lost their Shallop, and with extream difficulty sav'd their lives: But, in all probability, had we been with them, we must have perish'd, not having strength sufficient to help ourselves.
Immediately after their getting on shore, they sent an express to Portsmouth in Piscataqua, where the good people made no delay in hastening to our deliverance, as soon as weather wou'd allow: But to our great sorrow, and for further trial of our Patience, the next day continu'd very stormy, so that, tho' we doubted not but the people on shore knew our condition, and wou'd assist us as soon as possible, yet our flesh near spent, no fresh water, nor any certainty how long the weather might continue thus, render'd our circumstance still miserable, tho' much advantag'd by the fire, for now we cou'd both warm our selves, and broil our meat.
The next day our Men urging me vehemently for flesh, I gave them a little more than usual, but not to their satisfaction, for they wou'd certainly have eat up the whole at once, had I not carefully watch'd 'em, designing to share the rest next morning if the weather continu'd bad: But it pleased God that night the wind abated and early next morning a Shallop came for us, with my much esteemed friends Captain Long and Captain Purver
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and three more who brought a large Canoe, and in two hours time got us all on Board to their Satisfaction and our great comfort: being forc'd