a long time we tried. Without
boiling water or a hot iron it was impossible to clear the pumps. The
water was rapidly gaining on us. There seemed every probability of the
ship sinking under our feet. Such has been the fate of many poor
fellows--to have gone down in a cold, icy sea, hope and help far away.
Such was the risk I had often before run, but never before had the
expectation of it been brought so prominently before me. Never before
had I, it seemed, so much to lose. Never so much to which to look
forward with hope. Our efforts to light the fire became more and more
frantic. At last I bethought me of applying salt to the ice in the
pumps. We fortunately had a good supply of it on board. By forcing the
salt down with a long iron the ice was melted, and the pumps at length
got to act. Frantically we pumped away with our two pumps. We sounded
the well; the water had decreased. This gave us courage to continue our
exertions. At length we were able to keep the ship free. Still the
gale continued, and I had my apprehensions, from the condition of the
ship, that another leak might yet be sprung and all our efforts prove
vain. Even a winter gale of wind in those latitudes off the American
coast must come to an end, and this, by the morning of the 5th,
sufficiently abated to allow me to set the fore and main stay-sails. I
then stood towards the land. At noon Rockets came into my cabin, where
I had gone to snatch a few minutes' sleep, and reported a ship and two
schooners in sight.

"An enemy, I'll warrant," I said to myself testily. "I shall be driven
out to sea again, or perhaps, after all, fall into their hands."

Still I stood towards them, ready to make all sail to escape should my
suspicions be realised. I could not make them out. When I got within
signalising distance I made the private signal, and great was my
satisfaction to find in answer that the ship was the Charlestown, and
the schooners two of the convoy.

The next day we made the high land of Neversink, and that evening
reached the entrance of New York harbour. It was with the greatest
difficulty, however, that we could work our way into it, so full was it
of floating ice, through which it was often scarcely possible to steer.
The other prizes which had parted company with me in the gale arrived
all safe three days afterwards. The accommodations of one of the
prizes, the Charity Brig, being much superior to those of the
Rattlesnake,