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By Root 564 0

to their newly conceiv'd Joy, they beheld their worthy Friends in the Shallop, standing away from the Shore without them; but the infinitely Wise and Good God, whose sole Prerogative it is to appoint the Time, as well as Means, of Man's Deliverance, by frustrating the present Appearance, effectually secur'd the Accomplishment of their Preservation, for the Wind coming about to S. E. blew very hard, and the Night proving exceeding Dark, the Vessel was stranded in returning, and the Men, with much Hazard, escaped to the Main Land; but had these helpless Wretches been there, they must have perish'd in all probability. Immediately upon their Landing, an Express was sent to Portsmouth, on Piscataqua River, and the good People there laid hold on the first fair Weather to hasten to their Relief. In the mean Time, tho' they had Reason to believe their Condition known, and therefore to expect a speedy Assistance; yet their Flesh being near spent, the next Day proving Stormy, and the Uncertainty of such bad

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Weather's Continuance, all serv'd to revive their Griefs, and exercise their Patience; however, the Misery of their Circumstances was much allieviated by the Advantage of Fire to keep them warm, and broil their Meat, from thence assuming a much more Savoury Relish.

The Fire was made in the middle of the Tent, and hemm'd in with Stones to prevent its Excursion; the Fewel-Ropes cut into short Lengths, and brought up to the Tent by the Master. At the first making of the Fire, no Vent being contriv'd for the Smoke, the People were almost suffocated, several Fainting away, and others grew extreme Sick; but an opening being made in the Top of the Tent, the ill Effect ceased. A Constant Watch of two at a Time, continually attended the Fire; and were statedly relieved every two Hours, tho' subject to some Inequality, being reckon'd by Computation.

The Men now urg'd the Master, to enlarge their Allowance of Flesh; and he in part comply'd but not to their Satisfaction: in the night, as he lay amongst the People, asleep to all appearance, he overheard the Two that had the Watch, whispering with something of an earnest Accent; and soon after perceiv'd One creep out of the Tent, and e're long returning with a Part of their small Stock, tho' the Flesh lay at a considerable Distance; the Rock was rough and uneven, and this very fellow for some Time past, especially when any thing was commanded to be done, had no other way of moving but on his Hands and Knees; as they were busie in broiling their Purchase, the Master suddenly starting up, seiz'd it, and forthwith acquainting the whole Company, it was proposed to inflict an exemplary Punishment, but as the Case then stood, they came off with a severe Reprimand.

And now when they came to [so] low an Ebb in the Article of Provisions, that the whole Remainder of the Flesh was allotted for the next Repast; as it pleas'd God, the Wind abated in the

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Night of the 3d of January, and early on the 4th in the Morning, whilst at their Devotions, they were agreeably surpriz'd at the Report of a Musquet, and looking out, saw a Shallop near the Rock. They came to an Anchor, and having a good Canoe, the Master's much esteemed Friends, William Long of Old-England and Jethro Furber of New-England, both Masters of Ships, with three others, soon came on Shore, the Master standing at the Waterside to receive and welcome them to that desolate island. After first Salutations past, and learning the summary State of their Case, having look'd about as far as Curiosity prompted, they first took the Master on board of the Shallop, and then, being very brisk, strong Men, brought the rest, two or three at a time, most of them on their Backs, from the Tent to the Canoe, tho' none of them were free from Vermin; and in two Hours time they were all on board to their Worthy Friends Satisfaction, and their own inexpressible Joy. The first Sustenance they received, was a bit of Bread and a dram of Rum each, and soon after a Mess of Water-Gruel every one, prepar'd in sufficient Quantity