pper deck guns were scarcely
in their places, when, to our amazement, it burst out again; and now,
as we durst not cut away the lining within board, lest a but-end or a
plank might start, and we might go down immediately, we had no other
resource left than chincing and caulking within board; and indeed by
this means the leak was stopped for some time; but when our guns were
all in their places, and our stores were taken on board, the water
again forced its way through a hole in the stem, where one of the
bolts was driven in; and on this we desisted from all farther efforts,
being now well assured, that the defect was in the stem itself, and
that it was not to be remedied till we should have an opportunity of
heaving down.

Towards the middle of September, several of our sick were tolerably
recovered by their residence on shore; and, on the 12th of September,
all those who were so far relieved, since their arrival, as to be
capable of doing duty, were sent on board the ship: And then the
commodore, who was himself ill of the scurvy, had a tent erected for
him on shore, where he went with the view of staying a few days for
the recovery of his health, being convinced, by the general experience
of his people, that no other method but living on the land was to be
trusted to for the removal of this dreadful malady. The place, where
his tent was pitched on this occasion, was near the well, whence we
got all our water, and was indeed a most elegant spot. As the crew
on board were now reinforced by the recovered hands returned from the
island, we began to send our cask on shore to be fitted up, which till
now could not be done, for the coopers were not well enough to work.
We likewise weighed our anchors, that we might examine our cables,
which we suspected had by this time received considerable damage.
And as the new moon was now approaching, when we apprehended violent
gales, the commodore, for our greater security, ordered that part
of the cables next to the anchors to be armed with the chains of the
fire-grapnels; and they were besides cackled twenty fathom from the
anchors, and seven fathom from the service, with a good rounding of
a 41/2 inch hawser; and to all these precautions we added that of
lowering the main and fore-yard close down, that in case of blowing
weather the wind might have less power upon the ship, to make her ride
a strain.

Thus effectually prepared, as we conceived, we expected the new moon,
which wa