holding together many hours.

One officer, Mr. Nopps, the master's assistant, had been placed in the
cutter, to prevent the men from taking away anything save the clothes
they had on. Eighteen were already in the boat, including Captain West
(an engineer officer) and his son, and fifteen were mustered in the
raft, which was lashed to the larboard of the wreck, when from some
accident the raft got adrift, and was carried away by the current.
This proved most unfortunate, as the raft was their great resource;
and all on board of her would inevitably have perished, had not the
cutter pushed out to their assistance. A rope was fastened to the
raft, and they attempted to tow her back to the schooner; but as the
cutter had only four oars, and the wind set so strong to the
southward, they were unable to reach the schooner.

Those who remained upon the wreck had only the gig left; and as this
could contain but a few, Lieutenant McDonnell thought it advisable to
direct an officer to take on board the sick, and proceed for
assistance to Belize, and if he fell in with the cutter to send her
back to the schooner. The gig accordingly shoved off, but again
returned, in consequence of an accident having happened to the mast;
this being remedied, she again pulled away from the wreck and having
fallen in with the cutter, communicated the orders of Mr. McDonnell
for her return. This, as has before been shown, was impossible, and
the gig having taken on board Captain West and his son, parted from
the cutter, with the intention of proceeding to Belize.

When Lieutenant McDonnell saw that the cutter did not return, he
directed and assisted the men who remained upon the wreck to construct
a second raft. This, after considerable labour, was completed by the
following morning: it was then launched overboard, and made fast to
the rocks within the reef. As the wreck still held together, Mr.
McDonnell considered it prudent to remain by her as long as possible,
in the hope that some assistance might arrive from Belize: but in this
he was disappointed. In the meantime, another and stronger raft had
been formed from the after part of the quarter-deck, which had been
broken up by the sea; this also was launched, and brought forward
under the bows. The men almost hoped against hope, but yet no
assistance arrived. Fortunately, the weather was partially moderate,
but still the sufferings, from exposure to the weather, and the
deprivation of proper f