:8o L O R D A N S O N ’ S V O Y A G E
continue fenfible, for a confiderable time longer, of the horror attending
his irretrievable fituation.
* Before this laft-mentioned ftorm was quite abated, we found two
o f our main-lhrouds and one mizen-lhroud broke; all which we
knotted, and fet up immediately. From hence we had an internal
of three or four days lefs tempefluous than ufual, but accompanied
with a thick fog, in which we were obliged to fire guns
almoft every half-hour, to keep our fquadron together. On the
gift, we were alarmed by a gun fired from the Gloucejler, and a
•fignal made by her to fpeak with the Commodore: we immediately
bore down to her, and were prepared to hear of fome terrible
difafter ; but we were apprized of it before we joined her ; for we
Jaw that her main-yard was broken in the flings. This was a grievous
misfortune to us all, at thisjun&ure ; as it was obvious it would
prove an hindrance to our failing, and would detain us the longer
in thefe inhofpitable latitudes. But our future fuccefs and fafety
was not to be promoted by repining, but by refolution and aflrvity ;
and therefore, that this unhappy incident might delay us as little
as poflible, the Commodore ordered feveral Carpenters to be put on
board the Gloucejler from the other fhips of the fquadron, in order
to repair her damage with the utmoft expedition. And the Captain
of the Tryal complaining at the fame time, that his pumps
were fo bad, and the floop made fo great a quantity o f water, that
he was fcarcely able to keep her free, the Commodore ordered him
a pump, ready fitted, from his own fhip. It was very fortunate
for the (gloucejler and the Tryal, that the weather proved more fa,
vourable this day than for many days both before and after; fince
by this means they were enabled to receive the affiftance which
feemed effentialto their preferyation, and which they could fcarcely
have had at any other time, as it would have been extremely hazardous
to have ventured a boat on board.
The next day, that is, oh the i fit o f tfpril, the weather returned
avain to its cuftomary bias; the Iky looked dark and gloomy,
and
R o U N p T II E w O u L D. t t
and the wind began to frelhen, and to^low.m^ualb j. however,
it was not yet fo boifterous, as to prevent our
clofe-reefed; but its appearance was fuch, as.plaiulyrp-i9g0:o tc
J a t a ftill feverer tempeft was at hand: .and.accord.qgly, .on the
3 , o f ^ there
r S t
f,u»d,o«i&*»■ f a Ball8 . f e i i J i 9
,o»d fortune meuded u s , for, *< ,
S .' Vp^ral sruns were fired to leeward, asfignalsof diitrels,
T d th e Commodom making a fignal for, the fquadron to bnng-to
at day-break, fiw th.W ager a cotrfrderable way to leeward of
any of the o t h e r s ; sSha m B J M H -
nnon the fhip s fetching a deep roll, i tns proven w
tunate to the Wager, as , her. Carpenter. had been on board the
G W r ever fince the of March, and the weather was now