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(343)
INDIAMAN.
317
about their fire, and before it could be again
collected, the rain put it out. In the morning,
those who were able, went again in search of
what could be saved from the wreck ; but, to
their great mortification, they found all the
casks which were seen the preceeding night,
except one of flour and another of beer, staved
against the rocks. These, however, they se¬
cured, and soon after, the tide flowing up, in¬
terrupted their operations. The company
were, therefore, called together to eat their
first meal, and some pork was broiled on the
coals for dinner.
Sitting down, thus desolate and forlorn, to
a repast which they were wont to share in
the convivial cheerfulness which the con¬
sciousness of plenty inspired, struck them
with such a sense of their present condition,
that they burst into passionate exclamations,
wringing their hands, and looking around with
all the wildness of despair. Amidst such tu¬
multuous emotions, our reflections hurry from
one subject to another, in quest of something
from which comfort may be derived: and here
one of the survivors, recollecting that the car¬
penter was among them, and that he might
build a strong sloop, providing he could ob-