Page:Melancholy consequences of two sea storms.pdf/6

(6) beneath its weight, shivered, and remained motionless-it was a moment of critical suspense: fancy made me think I felt her gradually descending- I gave myself up as gone, and summoned all my fortitude to bear approaching death with becoming manhood.

"Just at this crisis, the water, which rushed with incredible force though at parts of the vessel, brought out floating, and nearly suffocated, another English passenger, who was endeavouring to take a little repose in a small cabin boarded off from the deck: he was a very stout young man, and full of true spirit. Finding that the vessel was not, as he had thought, going immediately down, he joined me in exhorting the captain to his duty: we persuaded him to throw the guns overboard, as well as a number of trunks and packages with which the vessel was much encumbered; and with some little exertion, we got the pumps set a going."

The name of the English passenger just mentioned was Hall. He was a young man of a most amiable disposition, and with it possessed all that manly spirit that gives presence of mind in exigences of danger. He and Capt. Campbell having, with great difficulty, got some hands to stick to the pumps, stood at the wheel, at once to assist the men, and prevent them from quitting it: and although hopeless, determined that no effort practicable on their parts should be wanting to the preservation of the vessel. The water, however, gained upon the pumps, notwithstanding every effort and it evidently appeared that they could not keep her long above water.

"At ten o'clock the wind seemed to increase, a amounted to a downright hurricane: the sky w to entirely obscured with black clouds, and the rain fell so thick, that objects, were not discernable