When now, all thefe obftacles were in fome' degree removed,
(which were always as much as poffible concealed from the vulgar,
that they might not grow remifs with the apprehenfion of labouring
to no purpofe) the bufinefs proceeded very fuccefsfully and
vigoroufly : The neceffary iron-work was in great forwardnefs j
and the timbers and planks (which, though not the moil exqui-
fite performances of the Sawyer’s art, were yet fufficient for the
purpofe) were all prepared ; fo that on the 6th of Odlober, being
the 14th day from the departure of the Ihip, they hauled the bark
on Ihore, and on the two fucceeding days fhe was fawn afunder,
though with the caution not to cut her planks: And her- two parts
being feparated the proper diftance from each other, and the materials
being all ready before-hand, they, the next day, being the
9th o f Obiober, went on with no fmall difpatch in their propofed
enlargement o f her j whence by this time they had,all.their future
operations fo fairly in view, and were fo much matters, of them,
that they were able to determine when the whole would be finiihed,
and had accordingly, fixed the 5th of November for the day o f their
putting to fea. But their projects and labours were now drawing
to a fpeedier and happier conclufion j for on the n t h ,o f Ottober,
in the afternoon, one of the Gloucejier's men, being upon a hill in
the middle of the Ifland, perceived the Centurion at a diftance,. and
running down with his utmoft fpeed towards the landing-place,
he, in the way, faw fome of his comrades, to whom he hollowed
out with great extafy, The Jhip, the Jhip. This being heard by
Mr. Gordon, a Lieutenant of marines, who was convinced by the
fellow’s tranfport that his report was true ; Mr. Gordon direCtly
haftned towards the place where the Commodore and his people
were at work, and being freih and in breath, eafily outftripped the
Gloucejier s man, and got before him to the Commodore, who, on
hearing this pleafing and unexpected news, threw down his axe,
with which he was then at work, and by his joy broke through for
the firft time, the equable and unvaried character which he had
hitherto-preferved ; whilft the others, who were prefent, inftantly ran
down to the fea-fide with a kind of frenzy, eager to feaft themfelve.s
1 with
with a fight they had fo ardently longed after, and o f which they
had now for a confiderable titpe delpaired. By five in the evening,
the Centurion was vifible in the offing to them a ll; and a
boat being fent off with eighteen men to reinforce her, and with
frefh meat and frnits for the refrelhment o f her crew, (he, the next
afternoon, happily caft anchor in the road, where the Commodore
immediately came on board her, and was received by us with the
fincereft and hegrtieft: acclamations: For, hy the following (hort
recital of the fears, the dangers and fatigues, we in the (hip underwent,
during our nineteen days ahfen.ee from Tinian, it may be
eafily conceived, that .a harbour, yefreffiments, repofe, and the
joining O.f 9»r Commander and (hipmjtes, were not lefs pleafing
to us, than our return w,as .to them.
U u C H A P .