orth Star_ was an old vessel, though, to look at her, you would
not have supposed it, for she had been painted up and fitted out so as
to look as good as new. She was not the first ship I have seen sent to
sea which ought to have been sold for firewood. In our run out we had
only had fine weather, so she was in no way tried. On this our return
trip, we had not long left port when a heavy squall came suddenly off
the land and carried away our mainmast, and, the wind continuing from
the same quarter, we were unable to return. We had managed to rig a
jury-mast and to continue our voyage, when another gale sprung up, and
blowing with redoubled fury, the ship began to labour very much in the
heavy sea which quickly got up. Still, for a couple of days after this
gale began, there did not seem to be much cause for apprehension, though
the ship was making more water than usual. However, on the evening of
the third day, finding the pumps not sucking as they ought to have done,
I went down into the hold, and then, to my dismay, I found that the
water was already over the ground tier of casks. I went on deck, and
quietly told the captain. He turned pale, for he knew too well what
sort of a craft we were aboard. However, he did not show any further
signs of alarm, but told the first mate to call all hands to man the
pumps, while he sent me below to tell the passengers that they would be
required to lend a hand. We had been driven about, now in one
direction, now in another, but were some way to the northward of the
equator. The wind was at this time, however, blowing strong from the
north-east, and to let both our pumps work we were obliged to put the
ship right before it.

"All hands worked with a will, for we knew that our lives depended on
our exertions. Even the Messrs. Raymonds set to; but while others were
calm and collected, they were excited and evidently alarmed. I thought
to myself what good will all their wealth be to them if the ship goes
down? More than once I went below with a lantern to see if we were
keeping the water under, but I saw too plainly that, in spite of all we
were doing, it was gaining on us. We searched about to try and find out
where the leak was, but we might as well have tried to stop the holes in
a sieve. At midnight the water had risen halfway to the second tier of
casks. Still all hands worked on, hoping that by sunrise a sail might
appear to take us off. I saw too plainly that th