escape,—when the commander of the schooner
evidently wished to give relief,—the wind suddenly
changed round to the north, bringing
our settlement on the “ weather side,” which,
with a rising sea and tremendous surf, completely
separated me from the proffered deliverance.
Though so anxious was she to give
us every possible chance of assistance, that
she stood in so close as to render her situation
dangerous. May happiness, long life, and
pleasant cruises be the lot of those unknown,
but kind-hearted men! To complete my
misfortune, the unfavourable wind soon increased
to a severe gale, which lasted three
days without intermission, and which completely
prevented the vessel hanging round
the island. This is the fourth which has now
passed since I have been left here. God only
knows whether I am ever to be relieved, or
what is to become of me. I find increasing
difficulty in rallying my spirits to meet my
companions with cheerfulness.
24th. — My time drags heavily on. As long
as my paper and pencils lasted, they were a
source of infinite amusement; but now, alas !
all are entirely used, and sketches made on
both sides of my paper. A few blank leaves
of some old tracts left here for the use of
Glass and his comrades, dirty and sea-stained,
is all that I have left, and must reserve to
record my melancholy thoughts upon ; but as
they are the last specimens of paper remaining
on the island, I must economise, and am
thus cut off from one of my chief sources of
occupation. Fishing and hunting, my only
pastimes now, are both most fatiguing here ;
and my old clouted shoes are not in a very fit
state to allow me to go clambering up rough
rocks : and yet I am compelled j and as some
of the goats are generally within sight, I occasionally
have a shot at them, though their
extreme shyness, and the ruggedness of the
mountain passes, renders the approach to them
very difficult. I am sometimes, however, fortunate
enough to bring one back with me.
When the wind is favourable, or affords a
hope of the possibility of a vessel passing,
I am afraid of venturing too far from the
settlement, lest I should lose any chance of
leaving the island :* yet I ought, and am most