neglected, would inevitably end in our destruction, yet we had other
dangers then impending, which occasioned this to be regarded as a
secondary consideration only. For we all imagined that we were driving
directly on the neighbouring island of Aguiguan, which was about two
leagues distant; and as we had lowered our main and fore-yards close
down, we had no sails we could set but the mizen, which was altogether
insufficient to carry us clear of this instant peril; we therefore
immediately applied ourselves to work, endeavouring, by the utmost of
our efforts, to heave up the main and fore-yards, in hopes that, if
we could but be enabled to make use of our lower canvass, we might
possibly weather the island, and thereby save ourselves from this
impending shipwreck. But after full three hours ineffectual labour,
the jeers broke, and the men being quite jaded, we were obliged, by
mere debility, to desist, and quietly to expect our fate, which we
then conceived to be unavoidable: For we imagined ourselves by this
time to be driven just upon the shore, and the night was so extremely
dark, that we expected to discover the island no otherwise than by
striking upon it; so that the belief of our destruction, and the
uncertainly of the point of time when it would take place, occasioned
us to pass several hours under the most serious apprehensions, that
each succeeding moment would send us to the bottom. Nor did these
continued terrors of instantly striking and sinking end but with the
day-break, when we, with great transport, perceived that the island
we had thus dreaded was at a considerable distance, and that a strong
northern current had been the cause of our preservation.

The turbulent weather which forced us from Tinian, did not begin to
abate till three days after; and then we swayed up the fore-yard, and
began to heave up the main-yard, but the jeers broke and killed one of
our men, and prevented us at that time from proceeding. The next day,
being the 26th of September, was a day of most severe fatigue to us
all; for it must be remembered, that in these exigences no rank or
office exempted any person from the manual application and bodily
labour of a common sailor. The business of this day was no less than
an attempt to heave up the sheet-anchor, which we had hitherto
dragged at our bows with two cables an end. This was a work of
great importance to our future preservation: For, not to mention the
impediment to our navi