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him； we might yet save our lives； but that otherwise we must all
perish。 I told him to take courage； and I would endeavor to free him。
Feeling in my pantaloons' pocket； I got hold of my penknife； and；
after several ineffectual attempts； at length succeeded in opening
it。 I then； with my left hand； managed to free my right from its
fastenings； and afterward cut the other ropes which held me。 Upon
attempting； however； to move from my position； I found that my legs
failed me altogether； and that I could not get up； neither could I
move my right arm in any direction。 Upon mentioning this to Parker；
he advised me to lie quiet for a few minutes； holding on to the
windlass with my left hand； so as to allow time for the blood to
circulate。 Doing this； the numbness presently began to die away so
that I could move first one of my legs； and then the other； and；
shortly afterward I regained the partial use of my right arm。 I now
crawled with great caution toward Parker； without getting on my legs；
and soon cut loose all the lashings about him； when； after a short
delay； he also recovered the partial use of his limbs。 We now lost no
time in getting loose the rope from Peters。 It had cut a deep gash
through the waistband of his woollen pantaloons； and through two
shirts； and made its way into his groin； from which the blood flowed
out copiously as we removed the cordage。 No sooner had we removed it；
however； than he spoke； and seemed to experience instant relief…
being able to move with much greater ease than either Parker or
myself… this was no doubt owing to the discharge of blood。
We had little hopes that Augustus would recover； as he evinced no
signs of life； but； upon getting to him； we discovered that he had
merely swooned from the loss of blood； the bandages we had placed
around his wounded arm having been torn off by the water； none of the
ropes which held him to the windlass were drawn sufficiently tight to
occasion his death。 Having relieved him from the fastenings； and got
him clear of the broken wood about the windlass； we secured him in a
dry place to windward； with his head somewhat lower than his body；
and all three of us busied ourselves in chafing his limbs。 In about
half an hour he came to himself； although it was not until the next
morning that he gave signs of recognizing any of us； or had
sufficient strength to speak。 By the time we had thus got clear of
our lashings it was quite dark； and it began to cloud up； so that we
were again in the greatest agony lest it should come on to blow hard；
in which event nothing could have saved us from perishing； exhausted
as we were。 By good fortune it continued very moderate during the
night； the sea subsiding every minute； which gave us great hopes of
ultimate preservation。 A gentle breeze still blew from the N。 W。； but
the weather was not at all cold。 Augustus was lashed carefully to
windward in such a manner as to prevent him from slipping overboard
with the rolls of the vessel； as he was still too weak to hold on at
all。 For ourselves there was no such necessity。 We sat close
together； supporting each other with the aid of the broken ropes
about the windlass； and devising methods of escape from our frightful
situation。 We derived much comfort from taking off our clothes and
wringing the water from them。 When we put them on after this； they
felt remarkably warm and pleasant； and served to invigorate us in no
little degree。 We helped Augustus off with his； and wrung them for
him； when he experienced the same comfort。
Our chief sufferings were now those of hunger and thirst； and
when we looked forward to the means of relief in this respect； our
hearts sunk within us； and we were induced to regret that we had
escaped the less dreadful perils of the sea。 We endeavoured； however；
to console ourselves with the hope of being speedily picked up by
some vessel and encouraged each other to bear with fortitude the
evils that might happen。
The morning of the fourteenth at length dawned； and the weather
still continued clear and pleasant； with a steady but very light
breeze from the N。 W。 The sea was now quite smooth； and as； from some
cause which we could not determine； the brig did not he so much along
as she had done before； the deck was comparatively dry； and we could
move about with freedom。 We had now been better than three entire
days and nights without either food or drink； and it became
absolutely necessary that we should make an attempt to get up
something from below。 As the brig was completely full of water； we
went to this work despondently； and with but little expectation of
being able to obtain anything。 We made a kind of drag by driving some
nails which we broke out from the remains of the companion…hatch into
two pieces of wood。 Tying these across each other； and fastening them
to the end of a rope； we threw them into the cabin； and dragged them
to and fro； in the faint hope of being thus able to entangle some
article which might be of use to us for food； or which might at least
render us assistance in getting it。 We spent the greater part of the
morning in this labour without effect； fishing up nothing more than a
few bedclothes； which were readily caught by the nails。 Indeed； our
contrivance was so very clumsy that any greater success was hardly to
be anticipated。
We now tried the forecastle； but equally in vain； and were upon
the brink of despair； when Peters proposed that we should fasten a
rope to his body； and let him make an attempt to get up something by
diving into the cabin。 This proposition we hailed with all the
delight which reviving hope could inspire。 He proceeded immediately
to strip off his clothes with the exception of his pantaloons； and a
strong rope was then carefully fastened around his middle； being
brought up over his shoulders in such a manner that there was no
possibility of its slipping。 The undertaking was one of great
difficulty and danger； for； as we could hardly expect to find much；
if any； provision in the cabin itself； it was necessary that the
diver； after letting himself down； should make a turn to the right；
and proceed under water a distance of ten or twelve feet； in a narrow
passage； to the storeroom； and return； without drawing breath。
Everything being ready； Peters now descended in the cabin； going
down the companion…ladder until the water reached his chin。 He then
plunged in； head first； turning to the right as he plunged； and
endeavouring to make his way to the storeroom。 In this first attempt；
however； he was altogether unsuccessful。 In less than half a minute
after his going down we felt the rope jerked violently （the signal we
had agreed upon when he desired to be drawn up）。 We accordingly drew
him up instantly； but so incautiously as to bruise him badly against
the ladder。 He had brought nothing with him； and had been unable to
penetrate more than a very little way into the passage； owing to the
constant exertions he found it necessary to make in order to keep
himself from floating up against the deck。 Upon getting out he was
very much exhausted； and had to rest full fifteen minutes before he
could a