Page:Original stories from real life 1796.pdf/83

Rh loſe my precious limb; when, would you believe it? Pompey ſaw what I was thinking about, and began to lick it.—And, I never knew ſuch a ſurprizing thing, it grew better and better every day, and at laſt was healed without any plaister.

After that I was very ſick, and the ſame tender-hearted creature who gave me the rags, took me to her houſe; and freſh air ſoon recovered me. I for certain ought to ſpeak well of the French; but for their kindneſs I ſhould have been in another port by this time. Mayhap I might have gone with a fair wind, yet I ſhould have been ſorry to have left my poor wife and her children. But I am letting all my line run out! Well, by-and-by, there was an exchange of priſoners, and we were once more in an Engliſh veſſel, and I made ſure of ſeeing my family again; but the weather was ſtill foul. Three days and nights we were in the greateſt diſtreſſ; and the fourth the ſhip was daſhed againſt theſe rocks. Oh! if you had heard the craſh! The water ruſhed in—the men ſcreamed, Lord have Rh