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224 They found her lying on the rocks on her beam ends, with a large hole in her lower planks, and the sea breaking over her, so that it was impossible she could hold together much longer. It was evident, therefore, that all hopes of rescuing her were at an end, and their endeavours could only be exerted for the purpose of saving any portion of the wreck, such as planks or fragments of wood containing nails or bolts which might prove serviceable to them in their forlorn situation, to which they now considered themselves doomed for life. "Still," says poor Goodridge, "thankfulness for the preservation of our lives was due to the author of all good."

On the following day they succeeded in launching their boat and then proceeded towards the wreck. In their progress they discovered a cave much nearer the vessel than where they had landed, and which they had easily missed on the night of their escape, and this they resolved to make their immediate station. Coming to the wreck again they succeeded in saving the captain's chest, the mate's chest, and also some planks. On the following day they picked up the vessel's trisail and some casks of biscuit; but the casks unfortunately not being water-tight, all the biscuit was spoilt by the salt water. On the next day the wind blew very strong, and they saw to their sorrow that nothing remained of their vessel but the topmast, which had become entangled by the rigging among the rocks, and which was almost the last thing they were enabled to secure.

The weather continued so wet and boisterous for three weeks from this time, that it was as much as they could well do to procure necessary food for their