Page:The Columbia river , or, Scenes and adventures during a residence of six years on the western side of the Rocky Mountains among various tribes of Indians hitherto unknown (Volume 1).djvu/97

 there was water sufficient; upon which the captain ordered all sail to be crowded, and stood in for the bar. The jolly-boat was now ordered to fall back and join the ship; but having unfortunately got too far to the southward, it was drawn within the influence of the current, and carried with fearful rapidity towards the breakers. It passed within pistol shot of the vessel, its devoted crew crying out in the wildest accents of despair for assistance. This however was impossible, for at that moment the Tonquin struck on the bar; and the apprehension of instant destruction precluded the possibility of making any attempt to save the jolly-boat, which by this time was carried out of sight. The wind now moderated to a gentle breeze; but owing to the tide setting out strongly, the water became so low, that the ship struck several times; and to add to the horror of their situation, they were quickly surrounded by the darkness of night. During an awful interval of three hours, the sea beat over the vessel; and at times some of the crew imagined they heard the screams of their lost companions, borne by the night winds over the foaming billows of the bar. A little after twelve o'clock however the tide set in strongly, with a fresh-breeze from the westward;