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20 within their reach,—to prevent the fatal consequences that might ensue from longer delay, it was deemed expedient to defer these necessary operations till our arrival at Half-way Island. All on board were therefore ordered to come into the boats instantly; but the order, although we showed the example, not being obeyed with so much alacrity as it was last evening, we threatened to depart without them, and had actually shoved off; they then quitted the ship with reluctant speed, without having obtained either their apparent or real object. To the general credit of the crew, however, I ought to mention that only a very few acted in this manner—by far the greater number conducting themselves with becoming steadiness—yet it was not deemed prudent to trust too much to their self-denial in this respect.

Although many disheartening circumstances conspired to render the issue of our enterprise a matter of great uncertainty, yet being aware that despondency could only make bad worse, we commenced with confidence our perilous voyage, invoking the aid of Divine Providence, by whose protecting influence we might be shielded from the numerous and varied dangers that were and would be continually hovering around us. Our course was directed to Half-way Island; and the breeze being fresh, our ruined ship soon receded through the growing waters—all of us casting many a "lingering look behind,"—until her loftiest sails, yet fluttering in the wind, were hid from view by the