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 not proceeded, however, above two leagues from the wreck when they, one by one, cast off the tow-lines. It was afterwards pretended that they broke: had this even been true, the boats might at any time have rejoined the raft; instead of which they all abandoned it to its fate, every one striving to make off with all possible speed.

At the time, the raft had sunk below the surface to the depth of three feet and a half, and the people were so squeezed, one against the other, that it was found impossible to move; fore and aft, they were up to the middle in water. In such a deplorable situation, it was with difficulty they could persuade themselves that they had been abandoned; nor would they believe it until the whole of the boats had disappeared from their view. They now began to consider themselves as deliberately sacrificed, and swore to be revenged on their unfeeling companions, if ever they gained the shore. Their consternation soon became extreme. Every thing that was horrible took possession of their minds; all conceived their destruction to be at hand, and announced by their wailing the dismal thoughts by which they were distracted. The officers with great difficulty, and by putting on a show of confidence, succeeded a length in restoring them to a certain degree of tranquility; but they were themselves overcome with alarm on finding that they had neither chart nor compass, nor anchor on the raft. One of the men belonging to M. Correared had