morrow, a little consoled our men, the greater part of
whom, being unaccustomed to the sea, fell on one another at each
movement of the raft. M. Savigny, seconded by some people who still
preserved their presence of mind amidst the disorder, stretched cords
across the raft, by which the men held, and were better able to resist
the swell of the sea; some were even obliged to fasten themselves. In
the middle of the night the weather was very rough; huge waves burst
upon us, sometimes overturning us with great violence. The cries of
the men, mingled with the flood, whilst the terrible sea raised us at
every instant from the raft, and threatened to sweep us away. This
scene was rendered still more terrible, by the horrors inspired by the
darkness of the night. Suddenly we believed we saw fires in the
distance at intervals.
We had had the precaution to hang at the top of the mast, the
gunpowder and pistols which we had brought from the frigate. We made
signals by burning a large quantity of cartridges; we even fired some
pistols, but it seems the fire we saw, was nothing but an error of
vision, or, perhaps, nothing more than the sparkling of the waves.
We struggled with death during the whole of the night, holding firmly
by the ropes which were made very secure.--Tossed by the waves from
the back to the front, and from the front to the back, and sometimes
precipitated into the sea; floating between life and death, mourning
our misfortunes, certain of perishing; we disputed, nevertheless, the
remainder of our existence, with that cruel element which threatened
to engulf us. Such was our condition till daybreak. At every instant
were heard the lamentable cries of the soldiers and sailors; they
prepared for death, bidding farewell to one another, imploring the
protection of Heaven, and addressing fervent prayers to God. Every one
made vows to him, in spite of the certainty of never being able to
accomplish them. Frightful situation! How is it possible to have any
idea of it, which will not fall far short of the reality!
Towards seven in the morning the sea fell a little, the wind blew with
less fury; but what a scene presented itself to our view! Ten or
twelve unfortunates, having their inferior extremities fixed in the
openings between the pieces of the raft, had perished by being unable
to disengage themselves; several others were swept away by the
violence of the sea. At the hour of repast, we took the numbers anew;
w
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