rushed to complete the terrible picture sketched by the
convict. She saw it all--the blue sea, the burning sun, the slowly
moving ship, the wretched company on the shore; she heard--Was that a
rustling in the bushes below her? A bird! How nervous she was growing!

"Being thus fairly rid--as we thought--of our prison life, we cheerfully
held consultation as to our future course. It was my intention to get
among the islands in the South Seas, and scuttling the brig, to pass
ourselves off among the natives as shipwrecked seamen, trusting to God's
mercy that some homeward bound vessel might at length rescue us. With
this view, I made James Lesly first mate, he being an experienced
mariner, and prepared myself, with what few instruments we had, to take
our departure from Birches Rock. Having hauled the whale-boat alongside,
we stove her, together with the jolly-boat, and cast her adrift.
This done, I parted the landsmen with the seamen, and, steering east
south-east, at eight p.m. we set our first watch. In little more than an
hour after this came on a heavy gale from the south-west. I, and others
of the landsmen, were violently sea-sick, and Lesly had some difficulty
in handling the brig, as the boisterous weather called for two men at
the helm. In the morning, getting upon deck with difficulty, I found
that the wind had abated, but upon sounding the well discovered much
water in the hold. Lesly rigged the pumps, but the starboard one only
could be made to work. From that time there were but two businesses
aboard--from the pump to the helm. The gale lasted two days and a night,
the brig running under close-reefed topsails, we being afraid to shorten
sail lest we might be overtaken by some pursuing vessel, so strong was
the terror of our prison upon us.

"On the 16th, at noon, I again forced myself on deck, and taking a
meridian observation, altered the course of the brig to east and by
south, wishing to run to the southward of New Zealand, out of the usual
track of shipping; and having a notion that, should our provisions hold
out, we might make the South American coast, and fall into Christian
hands. This done, I was compelled to retire below, and for a week lay
in my berth as one at the last gasp. At times I repented my resolution,
Fair urging me to bestir myself, as the men were not satisfied with our
course. On the 21st a mutiny occurred, led by Lyons, who asserted
we were heading into the Pacific, and must infallibly p