s, on either side where the wreck of
the foremast was still hanging on to the channels, but no voice
replied--not a glimpse of them could be seen. We four were left alone
on that stormy ice-surrounded sea, with a shattered, almost unmanageable
ship. We did not fear. Our captain was a host in himself. We could
not get the wreck of the mast on board, so we had to cut it away.
Happily the wind came round from the nor'ard, and by rigging a stay from
the head of the mainmast to the stump of the bowsprit, we were able to
set a sail and to get the brig's head round. We had been knocking about
ten days when you fell in with us. Two vessels passed us, and must have
seen our condition, but they did not alter their course. All who sail
the ocean are not good Samaritans, like your friend the Bremen captain."

Such was the brief account Flood gave me of their disaster. I have
always designated the good man of whom he spoke as the Bremen captain,
for I could not pronounce his name, and did not write it down. I hope
we shall meet in heaven.

I must hurry on with my adventures. Once more I indulged in the hope of
being speedily restored to my wife and home. The weather was fine, and,
considering her crippled state, the brig made fair way. In some
respects we were better off than on board the Bremen ship, for we had
ample and good provisions and plenty of room, and as our supply of
clothes was small, Captain Tooke distributed among us those belonging to
the poor fellows who had been lost.

I had one night turned in, after keeping the first watch, under the
belief that all was going well. I was roused up with the so often heard
cry, "All hands shorten sail!" I hurried on deck to find the brig
plunging into a heavy sea, which was straining every timber in her. A
fierce north-easter was blowing. To attempt to face it was impossible,
and it was not without difficulty that we got the brig's head round from
it. Away we went before the wind, and away from England and my home.
By the captain's computation we were only three hundred miles or so to
the northward of the Bermudas. The brig had for some time been in a
leaky state, and we had frequently to turn to at the pumps, but, with
fine weather, we had had no fear of keeping her clear. Now, however,
the case was altered, and Captain Tooke resolved to run for the
Bermudas.

It is no easy matter to hit a small spot in the middle of the ocean,
after dark and blowing weather,