376 A SIMPLE STORY.

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 male the best of their
way back to Newfoundland, the wind blowing pretty fair, for it
blew an easy gale at south-east by east. They had as much pro-
visions and water as, with sparing it so as to be next door to starv-
ing, might support them about twelve days, in which, if they had no
bad weather, and no contrary winds, the captain said he hoped he
might get 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 desired it
should, namely, that there was a ship at hand for their help.

It was upon hearing these guns that they took down their
masts and sails; the sound coming from the windward, they
resolved to lie by until 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 come up with them; and at last, to
their inexpressible joy, they found we saw them.

It is impossible for me to express the several gestures, the strange