Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 272
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THE VOYAGE AND SHIPWRECK . 265 After a time theyneared the smallislandof Clauda,and whileunder itssheltertheydid all intheirpower tomake readyfortheworst. The boatwould be theironlymeans of escape,incase theshipshouldfounder;but whileintow itwas every moment likelyto be dashed to pieces. The first work was to hoist it on board the - ship. This was no easy task; foritwas with the utmostdifficultythatthe seamen couldperform thesimplestduty. All possibleprecautionwas taken to renderthe ship firm and secure, and thentherewas nothinglefttodo but to driftat the mercy of wind and wave. There was no placeintowhich theycouldrun for shelter,the wind was drivingthem,and even the poorprotectionaffordedby the littleislandwould not availthem long. Such was thedisastrousending of the day which had begun with soft breezes and high hopes. All night the tempest raged, and the ship leaked. The next day, allon board- soldiers, sailors,passengers,andprisoners- unitedinthrowingoverboardeverythingthat couldbe spared. Night came again,but the wind did not abate. The storm-beaten ship, with itsshatteredmast and rentsails,was tossedhitherand thitherby thefuryof the gale. Every moment itseemed thatthegroaningtimbersmust giveway asthe vesselreeledand quiveredunder the tempest's shock. The leakrapidlyincreased,and passengersand crew worked constantlyat the pumps . There was not a moment's restfor one on board . "The thirdday," saysLuke, "we castout with our own hands the tacklingof the ship; and when neithersun nor starsin many days appeared,and no smalltempestlayonus,allhope