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it moderately； in a month； and it had greatly contributed to our
comfort as regards position； we being much more at ease； and in
infinitely less danger； than before。
The difficulty； however； of now obtaining water blinded us to all
the benefits of the change in our condition。 That we might be ready
to avail ourselves； as far as possible； of any shower which might
fall we took off our shirts； to make use of them as we had of the
sheets not hoping； of course； to get more in this way； even under
the most favorable circumstances； than half a gill at a time。 No
signs of a cloud appeared during the day； and the agonies of our
thirst were nearly intolerable。 At night； Peters obtained about an
hour's disturbed sleep； but my intense sufferings would not permit me
to close my eyes for a single moment。
August 5。 To…day； a gentle breeze springing up carried us through
a vast quantity of seaweed； among which we were so fortunate as to
find eleven small crabs； which afforded us several delicious meals。
Their shells being quite soft； we ate them entire； and found that
they irritated our thirst far less than the barnacles。 Seeing no
trace of sharks among the seaweed； we also ventured to bathe； and
remained in the water for four or five hours； during which we
experienced a very sensible diminution of our thirst。 Were greatly
refreshed； and spent the night somewhat more comfortably than before；
both of us snatching a little sleep。
August 6。 This day we were blessed by a brisk and continual rain；
lasting from about noon until after dark。 Bitterly did we now regret
the loss of our jug and carboy； for； in spite of the little means we
had of catching the water； we might have filled one； if not both of
them。 As it was； we contrived to satisfy the cravings of thirst by
suffering the shirts to become saturated； and then wringing them so
as to let the grateful fluid trickle into our mouths。 In this
occupation we passed the entire day。
August 7。 Just at daybreak we both at the same instant descried a
sail to the eastward； and _evidently coming towards us！_ We hailed
the glorious sight with a long； although feeble shout of rapture； and
began instantly to make every signal in our power； by flaring the
shirts in the air； leaping as high as our weak condition would
permit； and even by hallooing with all the strength of our lungs；
although the vessel could not have been less than fifteen miles
distant。 However； she still continued to near our hulk； and we felt
that； if she but held her present course； she must eventually come so
close as to perceive us。 In about an hour after we first discovered
her； we could clearly see the people on her decks。 She was a long；
low； and rakish…looking topsail schooner； with a black ball in her
foretopsail； and had； apparently； a full crew。 We now became alarmed；
for we could hardly imagine it possible that she did not observe us；
and were apprehensive that she meant to leave us to perish as we were
an act of fiendish barbarity； which； however incredible it may
appear； has been repeatedly perpetuated at sea； under circumstances
very nearly similar； and by beings who were regarded as belonging to
the human species。 ｛*2｝ In this instance； however； by the mercy of
God； we were destined to be most happily deceived； for； presently we
were aware of a sudden commotion on the deck of the stranger； who
immediately afterward ran up a British flag； and； hauling her wind；
bore up directly upon us。 In half an hour more we found ourselves in
her cabin。 She proved to be the Jane Guy； of Liverpool； Captain Guy；
bound on a sealing and trading voyage to the South Seas and Pacific。
~~~ End of Text of Chapter 13 ~~~
CHAPTER 14
THE _Jane Guy_ was a fine…looking topsail schooner of a hundred
and eighty tons burden。 She was unusually sharp in the bows； and on a
wind； in moderate weather； the fastest sailer I have ever seen。 Her
qualities； however； as a rough sea…boat； were not so good； and her
draught of water was by far too great for the trade to which she was
destined。 For this peculiar service； a larger vessel； and one of a
light proportionate draught； is desirable… say a vessel of from three
hundred to three hundred and fifty tons。 She should be bark…rigged；
and in other respects of a different construction from the usual
South Sea ships。 It is absolutely necessary that she should be well
armed。 She should have； say ten or twelve twelve…pound carronades；
and two or three long twelves； with brass blunderbusses； and
water…tight arm…chests for each top。 Her anchors and cables should be
of far greater strength than is required for any other species of
trade； and； above all； her crew should be numerous and efficient… not
less； for such a vessel as I have described； than fifty or sixty
able…bodied men。 The Jane Guy had a crew of thirty…five； all able
seamen； besides the captain and mate； but she was not altogether as
well armed or otherwise equipped； as a navigator acquainted with the
difficulties and dangers of the trade could have desired。
Captain Guy was a gentleman of great urbanity of manner； and of
considerable experience in the southern traffic； to which he had
devoted a great portion of his life。 He was deficient； however； in
energy； and； consequently； in that spirit of enterprise which is here
so absolutely requisite。 He was part owner of the vessel in which he
sailed； and was invested with discretionary powers to cruise in the
South Seas for any cargo which might come most readily to hand。 He
had on board； as usual in such voyages； beads； looking…glasses；
tinder…works； axes； hatchets； saws； adzes； planes； chisels； gouges；
gimlets； files； spokeshaves； rasps； hammers； nails； knives； scissors；
razors； needles； thread； crockery…ware； calico； trinkets； and other
similar articles。
The schooner sailed from Liverpool on the tenth of July； crossed
the Tropic of Cancer on the twenty…fifth； in longitude twenty degrees
west； and reached Sal； one of the Cape Verd islands； on the
twenty…ninth； where she took in salt and other necessaries for the
voyage。 On the third of August； she left the Cape Verds and steered
southwest； stretching over toward the coast of Brazil； so as to cross
the equator between the meridians of twenty…eight and thirty degrees
west longitude。 This is the course usually taken by vessels bound
from Europe to the Cape of Good Hope； or by that route to the East
Indies。 By proceeding thus they avoid the calms and strong contrary
currents which continually prevail on the coast of Guinea； while； in
the end； it is found to be the shortest track； as westerly winds are
never wanting afterward by which to reach the Cape。 It was Captain
Guy's intention to make his first stoppage at Kerguelen's Land… I
hardly know for what reason。 On the day we were picked up the
schooner was off Cape St。 Roque； in longitude thirty…one degrees
west； so that； when found； we had drifted probably； from north to
south； _not less than five…and…twenty degrees！_
On board the Jane Guy we were treated with all the kindness our
distressed situation demanded。 In about a fortnight； during which
time we continue