Languages & literature > Aurus clavus, or, The adventures of a gold trinket, supposed to have been written by itself

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The hare hulk continued to drift along whither
the waves drove it. The crew thought on and
availed themselves of every opportunity of
raising a flag of distress, but as a great part of
their necessaries had been swept overboard,
they had some difficulty in finding anything
that might be of proper effect. After searching,
however, they brought from under deck an old
sail, that in the hurry of confusion had been
cast out of sight, and contrived to raise it, by
supporting it with that part of the mast which
was broken off, and still lying on the deck,
along with some long planks. This had the
desired effect. In the dimness of the even¬
ing, a ship was descried making towards
her. Joy once more brightened over their
countenances, but it was doomed to be short¬
lived. The hulk struck against an opposing
rock and was dashed to pieces. Then arose
the wailing of the drowning.
My master, whose courage rather grew than
sank in danger, dived and rescued from the
grasp of the merciless waves two of Sir James's
daughters, while he himself strove to save the
other two, as he clung to the fragments in
the hope that the ship, which was fast mak-