e; nor could even this be done without much difficulty and danger,
as it was necessary to let go their last anchor. Most of the guns were
now thrown overboard, and everything done to lighten the ship; and
about half-past six A.M., on the 19th, her head was brought round,
and, steered by the sails and a cable veered astern, towards the
islands. The weather was becoming more gloomy and threatening, and
before ten o'clock A.M. the vessel was so terribly shaken, that it
became absolutely necessary to cut away the main and mizen masts,
leaving the foremast standing, with sail set, to force the ship on as
much as possible, and also to prevent her drifting off with the ebb,
or with a change of wind. Although the dangerous situation of the
Flora was clearly perceived by the people on shore, no boat put out to
her assistance, the authorities having forbidden them to render such
aid on pain of death.

Captain Bland, during his cruize on these seas, had allowed the
fishing-boats of the enemy to range unmolested, and had given strict
orders that not a fish should be taken from them without payment; but
even these boats now came near the labouring ship and passed on,
leaving her and her crew to perish. About four o'clock in the
afternoon when she seemed to be sinking, she took the ground and there
remained, surrounded by breakers, the crew in vain firing guns, and
making other signals of distress, which were totally disregarded. All
hands that could be spared from the pumps had been employed in making
rafts, and these were now launched into the surf, and about one
hundred and thirty of the crew got upon them, and were fortunate
enough to gain the high land.

Captain Bland, with a few officers and men, pushed off in the barge,
the only boat that was left, and after rowing for eighteen hours
without any sustenance, they reached the Island of Amoland, where they
were made prisoners.

The rest of the crew, who had chosen to stay by the ship, remained on
board for four days and nights, and, excepting nine, who perished from
the severity of the weather, they all got safe on shore. The above is
a plain, unvarnished account, taken from the narrative of Captain
Bland: it is a true tale, and needs not the aid of romance to give it
interest. For more than twenty-four hours the crew suffered the
horrors of uncertainty; their vessel thrown upon a hostile shore,
whose inhabitants were forbidden on pain of death to assist them,
whilst of all t