Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 2.djvu/294

 by the sudden and skilful motion of the helm; one moment more, and one foot nearer, and we were gone.

"Merciful God!" said I, "to what fate am I reserved at last? How can I be sufficiently thankful for so much goodness?

I thanked. the American for his attention— told my men how much we were indebted to him, and how amply he had repaid our kindness in taking him off the wreck.

"Ah, lieutenant," said the poor man, "it is a small turn I've done you for the kindness you have shewn to me."

The water was very deep, the rocks being steep; so, we lowered our sail, and getting our oars out, pulled in to look for a landing. At the farther end of the cove, we discovered the wreck of a vessel lying on the beach. She was broken in two, and appeared to be copperbottomed. This increased the eagerness of the men to land; we rowed close to the shore, but