Page:Papers of William Shakespeare Hall, 1861–1895.pdf/7

 we had all been asleep & she drifting; tried to pull through it, but the farther we pulled the worse we made of it, breakers everywhere, & we in the midst of them, clear of them after an hard pull for an hour or two, at daylight found ourselves on a lee shore, & blowing hard, ship about 9 miles to windward, after pulling hard till noon we were more abreast of her, but had not made an inch, except lee way.

Sailors wished to beach the boat, but the surf was too heavy, at last a boat came from the ship, with biscuits, brandy & a tow rope, three things which we all very much required as we had not taken any food with us, arrived on board at 3 p.m.

MAY 13.

Went on shore in full force & armed with two boats, to the Eastern side of the bay. Captain Dixon returned to the ship with his boat; we remained & slept on oars & etc in the boat, with a wet sail to cover us, not first rate lodging by any means.

MAY 14.

McCourt and I were left in charge of the boat, while Mr. Gregory & some of the party went on a tour of inspection; & came back at 3 p.m. well tired and much in want of water, not having found any. The tide rose from 5 ft to 21 feet.