round the ship; but even at a
boat's length from her no bottom was found to which a cable could reach.
She appeared fixed hard and fast, and should any sea get up she must
inevitably quickly go to pieces.

Of this all were thoroughly convinced, although, Drake and his officers
setting the example, all manfully kept up their spirits. Their boat
could not carry more than twenty persons at once with safety, while the
whole company consisted of fifty-eight, and the land was six leagues
from them, the wind being directly off shore. At first it was proposed
to send one boat-load on shore, but there was the risk of their falling
into the hands of the savage inhabitants. Anxiously they awaited the
return of day. It came at length. They forthwith made another attempt
to carry out an anchor, but no holding ground was found. They were
apparently on the very pinnacle of a rock. It was the top of high
water. There appeared every probability that, when the tide became
lower, the ship would fall over on her bilge and be destroyed.

Again they took to praying, and, after a short address by the Admiral
and chaplain, they all together partook of the sacrament. Then, lest
they should be guilty of not using all lawful means to free themselves
from their danger, they commenced unloading the ship by casting all the
goods they could lay their hands on into the sea.

Powder and shot and provisions were hove overboard, for they trusted
that, should God permit the ship once more to float, He would not allow
them to fall into the hands of their enemies, or to perish from want of
food. The tide continued to fall, but the breeze blew strongly against
the side which was inclined towards the rock, and kept the ship on an
even keel, although, at one time, on that side there was not more than
seven feet of water, while she required thirteen to float her. The
breeze increasing, she heeled over on the opposite side, where the water
was the deepest, and by this means, her keel tearing away the coral
rock, she was suddenly floated, at a moment no one expected, into deep
water. A shout of joy escaped the throats of the gallant crew of the
_Golden Hind_, nor did they forget to offer up their grateful thanks to
Heaven for their delivery. This was the greatest danger they had
hitherto encountered. For many days afterwards, however, they were
entangled among the reefs off the low coast of Celebes.

On the 20th of January, Drake, desiring to com