aried, which we
supposed was occasioned by our running nearer their haunts, or getting
farther from them.

The trade-wind continued to favour us without any fluctuation, from
the end of June till towards the end of July. But on the 26th of July,
being then, as we esteemed, about three hundred leagues distant from
the Ladrones, we met with a westerly wind, which did not come about
again to the eastward in four days time. This was a most dispiriting
incident, as it at once damped all our hopes of speedy relief,
especially too as it was attended with a vexatious accident to the
Gloucester: For in one part of these four days the wind-flatted to a
calm, and the ships rolled very deep; by which means the Gloucester's
forecap split, and her top-mast came by the board, and broke her
fore-yard directly in the slings. As she was hereby rendered incapable
of making any sail for some time, we were obliged, as soon as a gale
sprung up, to take her in tow; and near twenty of the healthiest and
ablest of our seamen were taken from the business of our own ship, and
were employed for eight or ten days together on board the Gloucester
in repairing her damages: But these things, mortifying as we thought
them, were but the beginning of our disasters; for scarce had our
people finished their business in the Gloucester, before we met with
a most violent storm in the western board, which obliged us to lie to.
In the beginning of this storm our ship sprung a leak, and let in
so much water, that all our people, officers included, were employed
continually in working the pumps: And the next day we had the vexation
to see the Gloucester, with her top-mast once more by the board; and
whilst we were viewing her with great concern for this new distress,
we saw her main-top mast, which had hitherto served as a jury
main-mast, share the same fate. This completed our misfortunes, and
rendered them without resource; for we knew the Gloucester's crew
were so few and feeble, that without our assistance they could not
be relieved: And our sick were now so far increased, and those that
remained in health so continually fatigued with the additional duty of
our pumps, that it was impossible for us to lend them any aid. Indeed
we were not as yet fully apprized of the deplorable situation of
the Gloucester's crew; for when the storm abated, (which during its
continuance prevented all communication with them) the Gloucester bore
up under our stern; and Captain