Accidents > Dangers of the deep, or, Narratives of shipwreck and adventure at sea

16 WRECK AND ESCAPE
times against the ship’s side, owing to the
heavy sea, and as often the shock threw me
down to the bottom, which was half full of
water. Fortunately, the boat did not give
way, and two seamen at length came down to
assist me up the ship’s side, which the weight
of my clothes, and weakness, had prevented;
a rope with a noose was handed down by one
of them, who directed me to put it about my
middle; but he began to pull when I had got
it over one shoulder, and nearly drew me
overboard. Having secured myself, and the
boat casting off, I was drawn through the sea,
where I had the narrowest escape; for the
seaman having neglected to tie the rope, as he
afterwards told me in England, it was pre¬
vented from slipping by a knot, which was by
chance at the end, otherwise I must have gone
down; I may truly say there was not an inch
between me and death. The next pull stun¬
ned me against the side of the ship. When
1 came to myself the following morning, I
found the master’s own cabin had been de¬
voted to my service. Though severely
bruised, I rose from my bed to make inquiries
concerning my fellow-sufferers, and found
them, contrary to my expectation, overcome