Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/307

 fensive to the taste; it was therefore thrown away, but those who had ventured to palate it, were seized with violent cholics, cold sweats, and retchings, which sufficiently convinced them of the danger they had escaped.

Wednesday, Sept. 3. They had now been inhabitants of this desolate rock ever since the 17th of July, near seven weeks, and during this time they had often seen a great smoke on the main land, which made them very desirous to fend the boat, to try what assistance might be obtained from thence. On this day, therefore, Bothwell, Rosenbury, and Taylor, set out on the discovery, and at night the people on shore made a large fire on the highest part of the rock, as a signal to them.

While they were waiting the return of the boat, they were all thrown into the utmost consternation by an accident which happened to the carpenter, who unfortunately cut his leg with an adze, in such a manner that he was in great danger of bleeding to death, they having no surgeon among them, nor any thing proper to apply to the wound. At length, however, tho' with much difficulty, the blood was staunched, and the wound healed without any bad symptom intervening.

Saturday, Sept. 6. The weather having been fair for 48 hours, they impatiently expected the return of the boat. At noon they became very uneasy at having seen nothing of her; but just as they were sitting down to dinner, they were agreeably surprised by two of their people, who came running over the rock, crying out, the boat! the boat! They all started up, overjoyed at the sound, and ran to see her come in, with great hopes that he had succeeded; but they soon distinguished, that he was rowed only by one man, who plied both oars: they concluded, therefore, that the other two were lost or detained; but presently they saw another get up from the bottom of the boat, where it was supposed he had lain down for a short refreshment, and then the boat came forward somewhat faster, though still at a slow rate. The dinner was now entirely forgot, and after they had waited an hour on the beach with the utmost impatience, the boat came in. The two men were Rosenbury and Taylor, who, the moment they stept on shore, threw themselves on their knees, and in short but earnest ejaculations returned thanks to God for having once more set them safe upon this place, which, barren and desolate as it was, they now considered as an asylum from a situation of much greater distress. Having exerted their utmost effort to bring the boat in, their strength forsook them at once, and they were not able to rise from the ground without assistance.

As soon as they were got over to the tent, every body was busy to procure them some refreshment, for they found that the boat was quite empty both of provisions and water. They dressed them some fish, with as much haste as they could; and perceiving that they were quite exhausted with watching and labour, they left them when they had eaten their meal, without asking any questions, and they immediately fell asleep. The behaviour of these honest sailors to their mess-mates, was