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

DESERTION OP CAPTAIN CHEAP. 149
boat with some little refreshment, such as
our miserable circumstances would admit of,
and with an intent of bringing him back, we
found him dead and stiff. I was now reduced
to the lowest condition by my illness, which
was increased by the vile stuff I ate, when we
were favoured by a fair day, a thing very ex¬
traordinary in this climate. We instantly
took the advantage of it, and once more visited
the last remains of the wreck,—her bottom.
Here our pains were repaid with the great
good fortune of hooking up three casks of beef,
which were brought safe to shore. This pro¬
vidential supply could not have happened at
a more seasonable time than now, when we
were afflicted with the greatest dearth we had
ever experienced, and the little strength we
had remaining was to be exerted in our en¬
deavours to leave the island. Accordingly we
soon found a remedy for our sickness, which
was nothing but the effects of famine, and
were greatly restored by food. The provi¬
sion was equally distributed among us all,
and served us for the remainder of our stay
here.
We began to grow extremely impatient to
leave the island, as the days were now near-