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Surf…boat； called to them to keep off； and waited with a grateful and
relieved heart for the Long…boat to come and take me in； if she could。 I
looked at my watch； and it showed me； by the blue…light； ten minutes past
two。 They lost no time。 As soon as she was near enough； I swung myself
into her； and called to the men； 〃With a will； lads！ She's reeling！〃 We were
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not an inch too far out of the inner vortex of her going down； when； by the
blue…light which John Mullion still burnt in the bow of the Surf…boat； we
saw her lurch； and plunge to the bottom head…foremost。 The child cried；
weeping wildly； 〃O the dear Golden Mary！ O look at her！ Save her！ Save
the poor Golden Mary！〃 And then the light burnt out； and the black dome
seemed to come down upon us。
I suppose if we had all stood a…top of a mountain； and seen the whole
remainder of the world sink away from under us； we could hardly have felt
more shocked and solitary than we did when we knew we were alone on
the wide ocean； and that the beautiful ship in which most of us had been
securely asleep within half an hour was gone for ever。 There was an awful
silence in our boat； and such a kind of palsy on the rowers and the man at
the rudder； that I felt they were scarcely keeping her before the sea。 I
spoke out then； and said； 〃Let every one here thank the Lord for our
preservation！〃 All the voices answered （even the child's）； 〃We thank the
Lord！〃 I then said the Lord's Prayer； and all hands said it after me with a
solemn murmuring。 Then I gave the word 〃Cheerily； O men； Cheerily！〃
and I felt that they were handling the boat again as a boat ought to be
handled。
The Surf…boat now burnt another blue…light to show us where they
were； and we made for her； and laid ourselves as nearly alongside of her as
we dared。 I had always kept my boats with a coil or two of good stout stuff
in each of them； so both boats had a rope at hand。 We made a shift； with
much labour and trouble； to got near enough to one another to divide the
blue…lights （they were no use after that night； for the sea…water soon got at
them）； and to get a tow…rope out between us。 All night long we kept
together； sometimes obliged to cast off the rope； and sometimes getting it
out again； and all of us wearying for the morningwhich appeared so long
in coming that old Mr。 Rarx screamed out； in spite of his fears of me； 〃The
world is drawing to an end； and the sun will never rise any more！〃
When the day broke； I found that we were all huddled together in a
miserable manner。 We were deep in the water； being； as I found on
mustering； thirty…one in number； or at least six too many。 In the Surf…boat
they were fourteen in number； being at least four too many。 The first thing
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I did； was to get myself passed to the rudderwhich I took from that time…
…and to get Mrs。 Atherfield； her child； and Miss Coleshaw； passed on to sit
next me。 As to old Mr。 Rarx； I put him in the bow； as far from us as I could。
And I put some of the best men near us in order that if I should drop there
might be a skilful hand ready to take the helm。
The sea moderating as the sun came up； though the sky was cloudy
and wild； we spoke the other boat； to know what stores they had； and to
overhaul what we had。 I had a compass in my pocket； a small telescope； a
double…barrelled pistol； a knife； and a fire…box and matches。 Most of my
men had knives； and some had a little tobacco： some； a pipe as well。 We
had a mug among us； and an iron spoon。 As to provisions； there were in
my boat two bags of biscuit； one piece of raw beef； one piece of raw pork；
a bag of coffee； roasted but not ground （thrown in； I imagine； by mistake；
for something else）； two small casks of water； and about half…a…gallon of
rum in a keg。 The Surf…boat； having rather more rum than we； and fewer to
drink it； gave us； as I estimated； another quart into our keg。 In return； we
gave them three double handfuls of coffee； tied up in a piece of a
handkerchief； they reported that they had aboard besides； a bag of biscuit；
a piece of beef； a small cask of water； a small box of lemons； and a Dutch
cheese。 It took a long time to make these exchanges； and they were not
made without risk to both parties； the sea running quite high enough to
make our approaching near to one another very hazardous。 In the bundle
with the coffee； I conveyed to John Steadiman （who had a ship's compass
with him）； a paper written in pencil； and torn from my pocket…book；
containing the course I meant to steer； in the hope of making land； or
being picked up by some vesselI say in the hope； though I had little hope
of either deliverance。 I then sang out to him； so as all might hear； that if we
two boats could live or die together； we would； but； that if we should be
parted by the weather； and join company no more； they should have our
prayers and blessings； and we asked for theirs。 We then gave them three
cheers； which they returned； and I saw the men's heads droop in both boats
as they fell to their oars again。
These arrangements had occupied the general attention advantageously
for all； though （as I expressed in the last sentence） they ended in a
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sorrowful feeling。 I now said a few words to my fellow…voyagers on the
subject of the small stock of food on which our lives depended if they
were preserved from the great deep； and on the rigid necessity of our eking
it out in the most frugal manner。 One and all replied that whatever
allowance I thought best to lay down should be strictly kept to。 We made a
pair of scales out of a thin scrap of iron…plating and some twine； and I got
together for weights such of the heaviest buttons among us as I calculated
made up some fraction over two ounces。 This was the allowance of solid
food served out once a…day to each； from that time to the end； with the
addition of a coffee…berry； or sometimes half a one； when the weather was
very fair； for breakfast。 We had nothing else whatever； but half a pint of
water each per day； and sometimes； when we were coldest and weakest； a
teaspoonful of rum each； served out as a dram。 I know how learnedly it
can be shown that rum is poison； but I also know that in this case； as in all
similar cases I have ever read ofwhich are numerousno words can
express the comfort and support derived from it。 Nor have I the least doubt
that it saved the lives of far more than half our number。 Having mentioned
half a pint of water as our daily allowance； I ought to observe that
sometimes we had less； and sometimes we had more； for much rain fell；
and we caught it in a canvas stretched for the purpose。
Thus； at that tempestuous time of the year； and in that tempestuous
part of the world； we shipwrecked people rose and fell with the waves。 It
is not my intention to relate （if I can avoid it） such circumstances
appertaining to our doleful condition as have been better told in many
other narratives of the kind than I can be expected to tell them。 I will only
note； in so many passing words； that day after day and night after night；
we received the sea upon our backs to prevent it from swamping the boat；
that one party was always kept baling； and that every hat and cap among
us soon got worn out； though patched up fifty times； as the only vessels we
had for that service； that another party lay down in the bottom of the boat；
while a third rowed； and that we were soon all in boils and blisters and
rags。
The other boat was a source of such anxious interest to all of us that I
used to wonder whether； if we were saved； the time could ever come when
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the survivors in this boat of ours could be at all indifferent to the fortunes
of the survivors in that。 We got out a tow…rope whenever the weather
permitted； but that did not of