Boon Island - Kenneth Roberts [35]
Their first Enterprize of Moment, was the erecting of a Tent, in a triangular Form, about 8 or 9 Foot in Diameter, cover'd with Sails and old Canvas, and strow'd with pick'd Oakum for Bedding; it was only Capacious enough to receive them all, lying down sideways, so that no Man could turn himself without the general Concurrence. This occasioning some Disputes, was referr'd to the Master's Appointment, who, usually, once in two Hours perform'd it, upon publick Notice given. On the Top of the Tent a Staff was fix'd, on which, as the Weather presented,
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was hoisted up a Piece of white Cloth, in the Form of a Flag, in view of discovering themselves to any Vessel that accidentally should pass that Way.
The next Undertaking, was the Building of a Boat out of Timber and Plank extracted from the Wreck; having for Tools the Blade of a Cutlash, made into a Saw with their Knives, an Hammer, and a Caulking-Mallet: Some Nails they found in the Clefts of the Rock, and others they drew out of the Sheathing: Three Planks were laid flat for the Bottom, and two up each Side, fix'd to Stanchings, and let into the bottom Timbers, with two short Pieces at each End, and one Breadth of new Holland's-Duck round the Vessel, to keep out the Spray of the Sea; they caulk'd her with Oakum, drawn from old Junk; and secur'd the Seames with Canvas, Pump-leather, and Sheet-lead, as far as the extent of their small Stock would allow; a short Mast was fix'd, with a square Sail; seven Paddles provided for Rowing, and an eight, longer than ordinary, for Steering: All this was accomplished whilst their Carpenter, thro' a violent Indisposition, was utterly incapacitated from giving his necessary Assistance, almost his Advice; and the Rest so enfeebled and dispirited, that only the Master and two more, could engage in dispatching the Work; and the Rigour of the Season was so extreme, that they could rarely attend it above four Hours in a Day, and sometimes do nothing at all.
They had now been upwards of a Week without any kind of Sustenance, except the Cheese above mention'd, and the Bones of three Pieces of Beef, render'd eatable by Pounding on the Rock, whose Flesh the Fish and Salt-water had almost intirely consum'd; when, at several Leagues distance, they saw three Boats under sail, to their great Rejoicing in Hopes of Deliverance: All crept out of the Tent, and hollow'd as loud as possible, making every imaginable Signal, but all in vain, for they neither heard, or discover'd them. Notwithstanding, from hence they
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drew Matter of Encouragement; inferring, that as the Wind was N.E. at the Time they were cast away, so Part of the Wreck being driven on the opposite Shore, might discover their Distress, and induce these Vessels from the S.W. to come out in quest of them, which they might continue to do, as oft as fair Weather presented. Their earnest Desire of Deliverance guil'd them into a Belief of this agreeable Delusion; and, tho' the Event discover'd its Fallacy, yet it serv'd, for a while, to amuse a Despair, that vastly aggravated their lamentable Condition.
When they had almost finish'd their Boat, one Day, at low Water, they found the Carpenter's Ax cast upon the Rock of the Sea, and with it completed the Work. It was then consulted, who should adventure in her to get on Shore. The Master, offering to be one, was universally approv'd of; as being, thro' Health and Strength, best able to go through all Extremities; the Mate, the Master's Brother, and four others agreed to accompany