302 THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES

 

but they soon found that some sparks of the first fire had gotten into
some part of the ship, so difficult to come at, that they could not
effectually quench it; and afterwards getting in between the timbers,
and within the ceiling of the ship, it proceeded into the hold, and
mastered all the skill and all the application they were able to exert.

They had no more to do then but to get into their boats, which, to
their great comfort, were pretty large; being their long-boat, and a
great shallop, besides a small skiff, which was of no great service to
them, other than to get some fresh water and provisions into her, after
they had secured themselves from the fire. They had indeed small
hope of their lives by getting into these boats at that distance from
any land; only, as they said well, that they were escaped from the
fire, and had a possibility that some ship might happen to be at sea,
and might take them in. They had sails, oars, and a compass; and
were preparing to make the best of their way to Newfoundland, the
wind blowing pretty fair; for it blew an easy gale at south-east-by-
east. They had as much provisions and water, as, with sparing it so
as to be next door to starving, might support them about twelve days ;
in which, if they had no bad weather, and no contrary winds, the eap-
tain said, he hoped he might get to the banks of Newfoundland, and
might perhaps take some fish to sustain them till they might go on
shore. But there were so many chances against them in all these
cases ; such as storms to overset and founder them; rains and cold to
benumb and perish their limbs; contrary winds to keep them out and
starve them; that it must have been next to miraculous if they had
escaped.

In the midst of their consultations, every one being hopeless, and
ready to despair, the captain, with tears in his eyes, told me, they
were on a sudden surprised with the joy of hearing a gun fire, and
after that four more; these were the five guns which I caused to be
fired at first seeing the light: this revived their hearts, and gave them
the notice which, as above, I designed it should, namely, that there
was a ship at hand for their help.

It was upon the hearing these guns, that they took down their masts
and sails; and the sound coming from windward, they resolved to he
by till morning. Some time after this, hearing no more guns, they
fired three muskets, one a considerable while after another; but these,
the wind being contrary, we never heard.

Some time after that again, they were still more agreeably surprised
with seeing our lights, and hearing the guns, which, as I have said, I
caused to be fired all the rest of the night: this set them to work with
their oars to keep their boats ahead, at least that we might the sooner