er
works began to give way. As the sea rolled in with increasing violence,
plank after plank was torn off, then larger portions were wrenched from
the hull, the deck burst up, and was soon dashed into pieces against the
rocks. As soon as we had swallowed enough water somewhat to slake our
burning thirst, we hastened to the beach to save what we could from the
wreck. We hauled on shore all the planks and timber we could get hold
of, with the vague idea that we might be able to build a raft of some
sort, in which to make our escape. At all events the wood would be
useful to construct huts for the women, or to burn. As darkness set in,
a large portion of the wreck had disappeared, and even the captain was
convinced that her keel would never leave its present position, except
to be cast up in fragments on the rocks. He and the mate had been very
quiet and low-spirited. They were craving for their accustomed
stimulants, and several times I heard them grumbling at us for not
having landed any liquor for them. Neither they nor the larger portion
of their crew had exerted themselves in the slightest degree to assist
us in our labours. Most of them sauntered along the beach with their
hands in their pockets, or sat coolly watching us. Fatigued with our
exertions, we at last returned to the camp, where Jacotot was able to
give us a glass of water, and we then, thankful even for that small
supply, lay down to rest.

It was not till late that any of us awoke; we then found that the
captain and mate, and several of their men, had withdrawn themselves to
a distance from the camp. We were glad to be rid of their company,
though why they had gone away so suddenly we could not tell. We could
not help suspecting, however, that they had done so with the intention
of hatching mischief. When I speak of _we_, I mean our party from the
_Dore_, for we of necessity kept very much together. I have not
particularly described the emigrants, for there was nothing very
remarkable about them. Two or three were intelligent, enterprising men,
who had made themselves acquainted with the character of the country to
which they were going, and had tolerably definite plans for the
employment of their capitals. The rest had mostly failed in England,
and were rather driven by want into exile than attracted by the
advantages the new colony had to offer. They were all married men with
families, and this made them associate with each other for m