was extremely embarrassing. The inflexibility, folly and unfriendliness of old Mr. Loyd, increased my perplexity and excited my grief, as well as my resentment. But he had very much the advantage of me, and I was obliged to submit to my fate. Night came on and when the sun sank from the western horizon, and the sable curtains of night were drawn around me, I retired to the cabin with Annis, with a deep gloom upon my mind.My thoughts were much employed upon Captain Arnold, his wife and children. They lived within half a mile of my mother, yet I had but little acquaintance with them or with Captain Arnold himself, until within six or eight weeks. He considered himself as my guardian, (as did the worthy Captain Powers,) and was very partial to me, and I much respected him. I do not know that I slept any that night. I retraced the trials through which I had passed, and attempted to look forward, but all was darkness. It may well be thought that at that time of life I could cry; but whether I attempted to look to God for protection and direction, I cannot now say.

The next day the wind was more favourable but rather light. We got under weigh. Annis could assist me in getting up the anchor, and hoisting the sails, but he knew not how to trim them to the wind, nor could he steer. Common sense may judge whether I was to steer this little vessel all the way to the United States. It is true that Annis might in a few days learn to steer his trick, as the sailor calls his tour at the helm, but it must devolve on me to stand at the helm all the succeeding night. At about noon we discovered a ship, and soon ascertained that she wished to speak with us; she chased us several hours, but the wind dying away, she sent her boats. They took Mr. Loyd on board and examined him. She was an armed vessel of about eighteen or twenty guns, and no doubt she was an American privateer, but was not honorable enough to let us know what she was, or who commanded her. The boat which boarded us, plundered us of some fishing nets, lines, &c. and let us pass.

Towards night I spoke with Loyd and entreated him to consider my situation; that I should be obliged to

stand at the helm all night; I plead with him to let Samuel Wilds come on board with me, and take Annis on board with him. To this he agreed, and Wilds consented, greatly to my relief. Mr. Loyd could not have compelled Wilds to have left his own vessel, and there could be no doubt that Annis would prefer taking his chance with an old sailor.

Early in the evening, we had something of a breeze, and it continued to increase, and by midnight we had quite a gale, and our vessel seemed to labor hard. The night was dark; neither moon or stars could be seen. We could not "cast anchors out of the stern," as did Paul's company off Malta. We no doubt as earnestly wished for day as they did, and when the day arose, although so desirable, yet it was only to discover to us more visibly our danger. Our consort was about half a mile ahead of us; the clouds looked wild and ocean rough. We had lost our boat which was towing at our stern. At about sunrise we split our mainsail from top to bottom, and with difficulty got it down and secured it. At that moment we were obliged to put away before the wind, and scud under a whole foresail which was almost new, It would have been much in our favor if our foresail had been reefed, which would have reduced it at least a quarter part; but it was impracticable for one boy to get this sail down, reef it, and set it again; our foremast was now in great danger from having so much sail upon it, for the wind was not steady but blew in gusts, and when a heavy gust came, our foremast would bend like a whip. Our vessel being heavy laded, labored hard in so rough a sea, which occasioned her to leak so much as to keep one of us bailing most of the time, while the other must stand at the helm.

It was not a little distressing to be under the necessity of leaving the other shallop, for we were dependant on Loyd to pilot us along the eastern shore. We were now scudding before the wind; they were steering nearly at right angles from us, but in less than half an hour they were obliged to put away also this was an alleviation to our distress for a short season, but we were soon depressed again. The gale increased and of course

the sea was more boisterous, and the leak increased we were very fearful that we could not weather the gale, and every moment expected that our mast and sail would go over the bow; and in that case, we should have foundered in a few minutes. At about 12 o'clock, we discovered land directly ahead of us; it proved to be a small island, and it seemed impossible for us to avoid running right on it, and in that case we must have been dashed to pieces at the first blow.

It now seemed as if our fate was sealed. We ventured to bear off a little but could not possibly look clear of the island. The time now was short ere our case would be determined, for we were running at least at the rate of twelve or fourteen miles an hour. The other shallop was on our starboard beam, at least a half a mile distant, and could easily clear away the island. It was not perhaps more than fifty rods diameter. It was our constant care to haul as much as possible to the right, and some times we could just look by; I kept the helm all the while by Wilds' request, as he considered me the best helmsman. As we drew near the island our case looked more favorable; when we got within a mile of the island we could look just clear of it. This circumstance I think must have been owing to the cur rent, which must have been setting to the west at that time. There was, however, a reef of rocks, which ran off from the island, over which we must and did pass without striking, and cleared the island perhaps about twenty yards, and as soon as we passed it drew immediately up under its lee: had we been twenty yards further from the island, where the rocks seemed to be the nearest to the surface of the water, we should have stove in pieces. Mr. Loyd with the other shallop passed just without the reef, which did not extend more than sixty or seventy yards from the island. We all arrived about the same time and came to anchor in a small cove, within thirty yards of the shore, and in about ten fathoms of water. The shore was very bold, and the island a little mound. Thus in the kind providence of God, we were delivered from a most perilous condition. I can hardly say how my mind was occupied about a future state;

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under such circumstances sailors generally exert every power to save the body, and too often without any regard for the immortal soul.

I perfectly recollect that I was awfully afraid of death, nor can I bring again to view the danger I was in, without shuddering and admiring the kind and merciful interposition of a gracious God. It is utterly impossible, however, for me to describe in full, the alternate hopes and fears which pervaded my mind during that dangerous scene.

It was now more than twenty-four hours since I had taken any food, and I presume that this was the case with most of the company: it was therefore an object to get some refreshment as soon as practicable.

We hove over a hook and line and very soon drew in a large halibut, and doubtless could have taken in an hundred, if we had been disposed. One however answered our purpose, and we soon had some cookery going on while congratulating each other on our escape from destruction. We laid the two shallops as near each other as we dared, for although there was no sea, there was a very heavy swell. Although we seemed secure in this place, if the wind had shifted and blown from the opposite point, nothing could have saved us.

It was not our intention however to continue long in this place. Two nights had now passed, and I had got no sleep, and was quite worn down with anxiety and fatigue. It was very appalling to notice in what quick succession my conflicts rushed upon me; occasionally I would think of the gloom which so depressed my spirits in York harbour. Wilds tarried with me that night, but told me he should not go to sea again in that shallop.-I found it necessary to secure his confidence and friendship, and I had no great pains to take in doing this, for I found we were of the same opinion. It was my determination to quit the shallop in case that Wilds did. I therefore brought him to this agreement, that upon his honor he would not oppose my going on board Loyd's shallop. I had nothing to fear from Babb or Annis, but I expected to find Mr. Loyd of a hostile temper. He was a man probably fifty years of age; and

although I had but one night's rest in four, I did not sleep much on this night, knowing what must take place on the morrow.

On the next morning it was quite pleasant. We got breakfast early, and the shallops were drawn so near each other that we could pass from one to the other.Wilds went on board his own vessel again; I went also. I asked Mr. Loyd what we should do? "Do," said he, "why I must help you mend your mainsail, and try it again." I remonstrated against the measure and observed that Wilds declined continuing with me, and that it was out of the question to think of getting both of the shallops home, and finally told him plainly that I had quit, and was determined to make no further attempt on board of her, and was determined to stay on board his vessel. He began to swear and threaten me; I retorted and told him that I disregarded his threats, and that I was willing to be in subjection and to do my duty. No one interfered, and the old gentleman began to be moderate, but was determined to take the other shallop in tow. In short we got under weigh, had but a light breeze, and in the course of an hour or two discovered a small schooner making towards us; we had various conjectures respecting her. We sometimes thought whether it might not be another prize that the privateer had taken. Shortly, however, most of us were rather inclined to think it was an enemy. She continued to gain upon us and we discovered that her crew were rowing; we were all convinced she was an enemy, except Mr. Loyd. We tried to persuade him to cut the shallop adrift, and try to be off with one, but he declined.They soon began to fire upon us, with long buccanier pieces, into which they put eight or ten musket balls for a charge. The first time they fired they did not strike us, but we heard their bullets whistle over our heads; the second time their charge went through the head of our mainsail, and the third time it went through the middle of our mainsail. The old gentleman thought it was time to heave to, in order to ascertain who were our visitors. In a few moments they were along side of us, and twenty men sprang on board with these long guns in