C H A P . III.
Tranfactions at Tinian after the departure of the
Centurion.
TH E ftorm, which drove the Centurion to fea, blew with
too much turbulence to permit either the Commodore or
any o f the people on Ihore to hear the guns, which the
fired as fignals of diftrefs; and the frequent glare o f the lightning
had prevented the explofions from being obferved : So that, when
at day-break it was perceived from the ihore that the (hip was
miffing, there was the utmoft confternation amongft them: For
much the greateft part of them immediately concluded that (he
was loft, and intreated the Commodore that the boat might be
fent round the Ifland to look after the wreck; and thofe who believed
her fafe, had fcarcely any expectation that (he would ever
be able to make the Ifland again: Since the wind continued to
blow ftrong at Eaft, and they well knew how poorly ihe was manned
and provided for ftruggling with fo tempeftuous a -gale. In
either of thefe views their fituation was indeed moll deplorable:
For i f the Centurion was loft, or ffiould be incapable o f returning,
there appeared no poflibility o f their ever getting off the Ifland:
As they were at leaft fix hundred leagues from Macao, which
was their neareft port j and they were matters o f no other veffel
than the fmall Spanijh Bark, of about fifteen ton, feized at their
firft arrival, which would not even hold a fourth part of their
number. And the chance o f their being taken off the Ifland by
the cafual arrival of any other ihip, was altogether defperate; as
perhaps no European ihip had ever anchored here before, and it
were madnefs to expeft that like incidents (hould fend another here
in an hundred ages to come : So that their defponding thoughts
could only fuggeft to them the melancholy profpecft of fpending the
remainder
remainder of their days on this, Ifland, . and bidding adieu for ever,
to their country, their friends, their families, and all their domeftic
endearments.
Nor vyas this the worft they had to fear: For they had reafon to
apprehend,; that the Governor,.,of Guam, when he {hould be informed
of their circumftances, might fend a force fufficient to overpower
them, and to remove them to that Ifland; and then, the
molt favourable treatment they could expedt would be to be detained
prifoners during life ; fince, from the known policy and cruelty
of the Spaniards n their diftant fettlements, it was rather to
be fuppofed, that theGovernor, i f he once had them in his power,
would make their want of commiffions (all of them being on
board the Centurion) a pretext for treating them-as pirates, and for
depriving them of their lives with infamy.
In the midft of thefe gloomy reflections, Mr. Anfon, though he
always kept up his ufual compofure and fteadinefs, had doubtlefs
his (hare of difquietude. However having foon projected a fcheme
for extricating.himfelf and his men from their prefent anxious fituation,
he firft communicated it to fome of the moil: intelligent per-
fons about him; and having fatisfied himfelf that it was pracfticable,
he then endeavoured to animate his people to a fpeedy and vigorous
prosecution of it. With this view he reprefented to them, how
little foundation there was for their apprehenfions of the Centurion’s
being.loft : That he (hould have prefumed, they had been all of
them better acquainted with fea-affairs, than to give way to the im-
preffion of fo chimerical a fr ight; that he' doubted not, but i f they
would ferioufly confider what fuch a ihip was capable of enduring,
they would, confefs there was not the leaft probability of her having
perilhed : That he was not without hopes that ihe might return
in a few days j but i f ihe did not, the worft that could be
imagined was, that ihe was driven fo far to the leeward of the
Ifland that ihe could not regain it, and that ihe would confequently
be obliged to bear, away for Macao on the. coaft of, China ; That
as it was neceffary to be prepared againft all. events, he.had in this
T t cafe,