Page:Awful phenomena of nature (2).pdf/65

 ſhould not be able to extricate myſelf: by the mereſt accident, however, I graſped ſomething that lay in my way, made a vigorous ſpring, and gained the lee ſhrouds. Mr. Hall who followed me, in ſeizing the roads, was driven againſt me with ſuch violence, that I could ſcarcely retain my hold of the rigging.

"Compelled by the perilous ſituation in which I ſtood, I called out to him for God's ſake to keep off, for that I was rendered quite breathleſs and worn out: he generouſly endeavoured to make way for me, and, in so doing, unfortunately loſt his hold, and went down under the ſhip's ſide. Never, never ſhall forget my ſenſations, at this melancholy incident-I would have given millions of worlds that could have recalled the words which made him move; my mind was wound up to the laſt pitch of anguish: I may truly ſay, that this was the moſt bitter of all the bitter moments of my life, compared with which the other circumstances of the ſhip-wreck ſeemed leſſened- for I had inſenſibly acquired an unuſual eſteem and warm attachment for him, and was doubtful whether, after being even the innocent occaſion of his falling, I ought to take further pains to preſerve my own life. All thoſe ſenſations were paſſing with the rapidity of lightning through my thoughts, when, as much to my aſtoniſhment as to my joy, I ſaw him borne by a returning wave, and thrown among the very packages from which I had but juſt before, with ſuch labour and difficulty, extricated myſelf. In the end he proved equally fortunate, but, after a much longer and harder ſtruggle, and after ſuſtaining much more injury.

"I once more changed my ſtation, and made my way to the poop, where I found myſelf rather is more ſheltered--I earneſtly wiſhed Mr. Hall to be