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By Root 593 0

in twice the Time they might have done before they were disarm'd of their Mast and Sail; but the Swede remain'd inflexible, affirming, with Imprecation, I had rather perish in the Sea, than continue one Day more in this miserable Condition. By this Time another, animated by his Example, offering to go with him, the Master consented, and giving them some Money; that accidentally was in his Pocket, fix'd them on the Raft, and help'd to launch them off from the Rock, committing them to the Mercy of the Seas, under the Care of Divine Providence. Their last Words at parting were very Moving, and deliver'd in a Pathetic Accent: Pray Sir oblige all the People to join in Prayers for us as long as you can see us. All to a Man crept out of the Tent at this doleful Separation, and perform'd their request with much Devotion. About Sunset they judg'd them half Way to Land, and hop'd they might gain the Shore by two in the Morning; but in the Night the Wind blew very hard, and two days after the Raft was

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found on Shore, about a Mile distant from the other Man, having his Paddle still fast to his Waist, but so much worn, as shew'd he had labour'd hard, but the bold Swede was never seen more.

The Master had appointed these Adventurers to procure a Fire be made in the Woods, on a certain Hill, within Ken of this desolate Island; as a Signal of their getting alive on Shore, and the other expeditious Relief, and two Days after a Smoke arising from that Quarter, and daily continuing, tho' upon a different Occasion, was yet, with Reason, interpreted by them as a Token of speedy Deliverance. This Flush of Hope, under God, subserv'd for a Time to support them, accounting for the Delay by the Difficulty of procuring a Vessel, and the Freezing up of the Rivers, common in such an Inclemency of this Season of the Year; but, at last, Famine, deaf to all Remonstrances, began a new to excite Impatience.

The Spring Tide, so justly dreaded, was now, God be thanked, safely over; however, one Inconvenience follow'd; the Waters, not falling so low as before, depriv'd 'em, in a good Measure, of the Advantage of taking Muscles, a principal Branch of their daily Aliment. This irksome Employment, others refusing, fell to the Master's Lot, who ran a great Hazard of losing both Hands and Arms by so frequently exposing them in the cold Water, altho, when taken, his Stomach rejected them as offensive thro' excessive Coldness, preferring Rockweed, of much easier Digestion, yet, either the Quality of the Herb, or the Effects of Hunger, render'd the Eaters very Costive. At their first Arrival they saw, and even stumbled upon, several Seals on the Rock; the Master thence inferring, it was their nightly Harbour, took frequent Walks at Midnight in View of intercepting them, but they had intirely forsaken the Island. Multitudes of Sea-Fowl also appear'd, but observing Men daily there, refus'd to lodge on the Rock.

Their Necessities, in Regard to fresh Water, were indiffer-

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ently well supplied all the Time by Rain, and melted Snow, lodging in the concavities of the highest Part of the Rock, though the Taste was something brackish by the Spray of the Sea, at Spring-tides, breaking over it, tho' God, of his infinite Mercy, by restraining the High Winds, prevented a total Inundation. During the Frost they preferr'd the eating of Ice, which is fresh, though congel'd from Salt-water; this the Master brought in great Lumps to the Side of the Tent, and every Man took what he pleased. They drank their Water out of a Powder-horn, and applied another to the Use of the diseased in the Tent.

At this Time the Master set the Infirm, and otherwise useless Hands, to open Junk, and with the Rope Yarn, drawn from thence, thatch'd the Tent, according to the best of his Skill in that science; this serv'd to turn off 2 or 3 Hours Rain, and skreen them, from the Asperities of the cold cutting Winds. Of this Oakum likewise the Master made Swathing Bands, in which he swath'd up himself at Night, when he threw off his wet Cloaths, and obliging