right aft, carrying everything
before it. When it had disappeared, Stephen looked for the Captain, who
was nowhere to be seen, nor were any of those who were standing in that
part of the deck; the helmsman among them was gone. Another hand was
sent to the helm, the sail, which had been got ready, hoisted, and the
vessel put before the wind. Stephen now found himself in command of the
_Surge_, but from her condition he had very little hope of ever arriving
at a port. To go to Jamaica was not to be thought of, as he should be
delivering his companions, and possibly himself, into slavery. He
resolved, therefore, if he could save the _Surge_, to carry her to one
of the New England settlements, where he and his companions would be
received as friends; indeed, all those who had escaped from Sedgemoor
had probably already arrived there, and would welcome him with open
arms. The number of the passengers and crew were, however, sadly
reduced. Of the former, scarcely twenty remained alive, while of the
crew only six were fit for duty--not a single officer, the boatswain
having succumbed to the fever. Stephen picked out two of the best men
to act as mates, though neither of them could take an observation. When
he informed the passengers of his intention of steering for New England,
as soon as the hurricane should be over, they all willingly undertook to
aid him to the utmost. Of late the vessel did not leak as much as
before; something had apparently got into the opening which prevented
the water entering. This tended to keep up the spirits of the
storm-tossed party. Still they were in a very desperate condition.
They could hope to get up only very imperfect jury-masts, and then, even
should they obtain a favourable wind, they would be a long time in
reaching a New England port. With their reduced numbers, and their
provisions and water, they hoped to hold out, if all hands were at once
put on an allowance. Stephen determined to see to this matter as soon
as the gale was over. Still the fever continued among them. One of the
crew and two more of the passengers died the day after the loss of the
Captain. Poor fellows! it seemed a hard thing, in the prospect of
liberty, thus to be summoned away after all they had gone through.
Stephen had kept the deck nearly two days without once going below,
having his food brought to him. At length, worn out with fatigue, he
was compelled to seek an hour or two's rest in the cabin