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

64 LOSS OF THE
while the high land they thought was the
cape itself. The great height of the latter
made them compute its distance erroneously,
and it was dark when they reached it, but
could find no landing-place. They were
therefore obliged to take to their oars all
night. About five in the morning, while it
was yet dark, they found themselves off a
sandy beach of very considerable length. A
heavy sea rolled in, and landing was hazard¬
ous, but they effected it in safety, and got
into the woods once more, where they kindled
a fire, Mr. Frenties having secured the tinder-
box in his bosom to keep it dry. They were
so fatigued they could scarcely keep awake
for a few minutes, when before the fire. They
were obliged to watch in turn, for, had all
fallen asleep together, it would have been
their last. They were now all satisfied that
they had doubled the north cape of Cape
Breton.
Their provisions were nearly consumed,
and they were in despair. They began to
contemplate the necessity of sacrificing one
of their number for the sustenance of the re¬
mainder, and to propose the casting of lots
for the choice of the victim. This project,