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changed its poſition, and lay rather farther out towards the ſea; and in this emergency, when the next moment might be charged with his fate, he detetermined to ſeize the preſent, and follow the example of the crew, and the ſoldiers, who were now quitting the ſhip in numbers, and making their way to a ſhore, of which they knew not yet the horrors.
Mr. Meriton diſcovered a ſpar, which appeared to be laid from the ſhip's ſide to the rocks, and on this ſpar he determined to attempt his eſcape.
He accordingly laid him down on it, and thruſt himſelf forward, but he ſoon found the ſpar had no communication with the rock, he reached the end of it, and then ſlipped off, receiving a very violent bruiſe in his fail, and before he could recover his legs, he was waſhed off by the ſurge, in which he ſupported himſelf by ſwimming, till the returning wave daſhed him againſt the back part of the cavern, where he laid hold of a ſmall projecting piece of the rock, but was ſo benumbed, that he was on the point of quitting it, when a ſeaman who had already gained a footing, extended his hand, and aſſiſted him till he could ſecure himſelf on a little ſhelf of the rock, from which he clambered ſtill higher, till he was out of the reach of the ſurf.
Mr. Rogers the third mate, remained with the Captain, and the unfortunate ladies, and their companions, near 20 minutes after Mr. Meriton had quitted the ſhip.
At this time the ſea was breaking in at the fore part of the ſhip, and reached as far as the main-maſt, and Captain Pierce gave Mr Rogers a nod, and they took a lamp, and went together into the ſtern gallery, and after viewing the rocks for ſome time, Captain Pierce aſked Mr. Rogers, if he thought there was any poſſibility of ſaving the girls,
