especially those who had been most overcome with
terror, expressed their joy in all sorts of extravagant ways, and seemed
to consider that there was no longer any danger to be apprehended;
others, again, would scarcely credit what I told them, and inquired what
the captain thought on the subject.

"The captain! What does he know about anything?" exclaimed a young man,
who appeared to be superior in education to most of the passengers. "If
the ship is lost, and our lives sacrificed, on him will rest the blame.
Look there!"

He threw open the door of the captain's cabin, where he and the first
mate sat, both far too tipsy to move, yet still trying to pour spirits
down their throats.

"What's that you say?" growled out the captain, with an indistinct
utterance; "I'll have no mutiny aboard this ship."

He endeavoured to rise, but fell forward across the table, upsetting the
bottle and tumblers. The mate was too far gone even to attempt to rise.
He gazed at us with an idiotic glance for a minute or two, then his
head dropped down on the little table at which he was sitting. It must
be understood that all this time the ship was far from quiet; she was
still grinding and striking heavily against the rocks, though the sea
had not sufficient force to lift her over them. I hurried again on
deck; my fear was that the ship would fill with water and drop off the
rocks and sink. After hunting about we found the carpenter, and with
his help sounded the well; already there were six feet of water in the
hold. After waiting a short time we found that the water was
increasing, the pumps must be set to work. Some of the crew said it was
of no use, and refused; others came to our summons; and to help us we
called up all the men passengers, while we set the example by labouring
as hard as we could. Thus the night passed. It was indeed better for
everybody that we had something to do. Dawn came at last. We eagerly
looked out for the prospect which daylight was to reveal, whether we
were to find ourselves amidst reefs just rising from the water, or near
a mere sandbank, or on an inhabited shore. At first we could only see,
as before, the white foam dancing up, then dark rocks and yellow sand,
and beyond it brown hills and a few trees. As the light still further
increased we discovered that the country was in a state of nature; in
vain we looked for traces of inhabitants.

The passengers, hearing that we were close to land,