consulted the carpenters, and they had agreed
that this proposal was very feasible, and that nothing was wanting to
execute it, but the united resolution and industry of the whole body:
He added, that, for his own part, he would share the fatigue and
labour with them, and would expect no more from any man than what he
himself was ready to submit to; he concluded with representing to them
the importance of saving time; and that, in order to be the better
prepared for all events, it was necessary to set to work immediately,
and to take it for granted, that the Centurion would not be able to
put back (which was indeed the commodore's secret opinion;) since, if
she did return, they should only throw away a few days application;
but, if she did not, their situation, and the season of the year,
required their utmost dispatch.

These remonstrances, though not without effect, did not immediately
operate so powerfully as Mr Anson wished: He indeed raised their
spirits, by showing them the possibility of their getting away, of
which they had before despaired; but then, from their confidence of
this resource, they grew less apprehensive of their situation, gave
a greater scope to their hopes, and flattered themselves that the
Centurion would return and prevent the execution of the commodore's
scheme, which they could easily foresee would be a work of
considerable labour. By this means, it was some days before they were
all of them heartily engaged in the project; but at last, being in
general convinced of the impossibility of the ship's return, they set
themselves zealously to the different tasks allotted them, and were as
industrious and as eager as their commander could desire, punctually
assembling at day-break at the rendezvous, whence they were
distributed to their different employments, which they followed with
unusual vigour till night came on.

And here I must interrupt the course of this transaction for a moment,
to relate an incident which for some time gave Mr Anson more concern
than all the preceding disasters. A few days after the ship was driven
off, some of the people on shore cried out, A sail. This spread a
general joy, every one supposing that it was the ship returning; but
presently a second sail was descried, which quite destroyed their
conjecture, and made it difficult to guess what they were. The
commodore eagerly turned his glass towards them, and saw they were two
boats; on which it immediately occurred t