Page:Melancholy consequences of two sea storms.pdf/13

(13) ld not be able to extricate myself: by the morest  dent, however, I grasped something that lay in  way, made a vigorous spring, and gained the  shrouds. Mr. Hall who followed me, in seizing the shrouds, was driven against me with such ence, that I could scarcely retain my hold of  rigging.

Compelled by the perilous situation in which I d, I called out to him for God's sake to keep for that I was rendered quite breathless and n out: he generously endeavoured to make way  me, and, in so doing, unfortunately lost his d, and went down under the ship's side. Never, er shall I forget my sensations, at this melancholy incident-I would have given millions of worlds t could have recalled the words which made him ve; my mind was wound up to the last pitch of uish: 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 mythoughts, 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 inur and difficulty, extricated myself, in the end he oved equally fortunate, bu, 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 oversheltered-I earnestly wished Mr. Hall to be