h to blame in the business? I've suffered enough
for it these many years, and I trust that it will not be forgotten that
I have so, when I'm called up to be judged--as we all shall, if this
book is true, as I fully believe it to be.'

"Here he appeared to be a good deal upset; but he took a drink of water,
and then he told me as follows:

"'About twenty-three years ago I was a seaman on board of the "William
and Caroline," West Indiaman, bound to Jamaica. We had two or three
passengers on board, and the steward's wife attended upon them. She was
a handsome, tall young woman; and when she and her husband came on
board, they told me they had one child, which they had left at home. Now
Yarmouth, you see, is my native place, and, although I did not know her
husband, I knew her family very well. So we were very intimate, and used
to talk about the people we knew, and so on. I mention this in
consequence of what occurred afterward. We arrived very safe at Jamaica,
and remained, as usual, some time at the island before the drogers
brought round our cargo, and then we again sailed for England.

"'Well, we got clear of the islands, and were getting well north, when
there came on a terrible gale of wind which dismasted us; and for three
weeks we were rolling about gunnel under, for we were very heavily
laden, and we lost our reckoning. At last we found out that we had been
blown down among the reefs to the southward of the Bahama Isles. We had
at one time rigged jury-masts, but unfortunately the gale had blown up
again, and carried them also over the side; and we had no means of doing
anything, for we had no more small spars or sails, and all our hopes
were of falling in with some vessel which might assist us.

"'But we had no such good fortune; and one morning, when a heavy sea was
running, we discovered that it was bearing us down upon a reef of rocks,
from which there was no chance of escape. We had no resource but to get
the boats out, and take our chance in them. The captain was very cool
and collected; he ordered everything in which might be requisite; called
up the men, and explained to them his intentions. All the water and
provisions were put into the launch, for the sea ran so high that the
small boats could not carry them; and it was intended that all the boats
should keep company till it moderated, and then each boat should have
its own supply. When all was ready, we were _told off_ to our respective
boats. The ste