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

EAST INDIAMAN. 313
rest of the ship was then under water, and
shattered to pieces.
In this dreadful situation, expecting every
moment to be swallowed up, he heard some¬
body cry out land! He looked eagerly about
him, but notwithstanding he saw something,
which he supposed was taken for land, he be¬
lieved it was only the surge of the sea on the
other side of the breakers. At the same mo¬
ment the sea broke over him with great vio¬
lence, and not only forced him from his hold,
but stunned him by a violent blow on the
eye.
Though from this time he lay insensible
till after day-light, he still continued on the
wreck; and when he recovered, he found
himself fixed to a plank, by a nail that had
been forced into his shoulder. Besides the
pain of his wounds and bruises, he now felt
himself so benumbed with cold, that he could
scarce move either hand or foot. He called
out as loud as he could to the people on the
rocks, but they were unable to give him any
assistance, whence a considerable time elapsed
before he was capable of disengaging himself
and crawling ashore.
This shore was a barren uninhabited rock