Page 497
An.1688
The Authors Consternation.
was nothing when ones blood was up, and pusht forward with eager expectations. But here I had a lingring view of approaching death, and little or no hopes of escaping it; and I must confess that my courage, which I had hitherto kept up, failed me here ; and I made very sad reflections on my former Life, and lookt back with horrour and detestation, on actions which before I dif- liked, but now I trembled at the remembrance of. I had long before this repented me of that rovingcourse of life,but never with such concern as now. I did also call to mind the many miraculous acts of Gods Providence towards me, in the whole course of my life , of which kind, I believe few men have met with the like. For all these I re- turned thanks in a peculiar manner, and this once more desired Gods assistance, and composed my mind, as well as I could, in the hopes of it, and, as the event shew'd, I was not disappointed of my hopes.
Submitting our selves therefore to Gods good providence, and taking all the care we could to preserve our lives, Mr. Hall and I took turns to steer, and the rest took turns to heave out the Water, and thus we provided to spend the most doleful night I ever was in. About 10 a clock it began to Thunder, Lighten, and Rain; but the Rain was very welcom to us, having drank up all the Water we brought from the Island.
The Wind at first blew harder than before, but within half an hour, it abated, and became more moderate ; and the Sea also asswaged of its fury, and then by a lighted Match, of which we kept a piece burning on purpose, we looked on our Compass, to fee how we steered, and found our course to be still East. We had no occasion to look on the Compass before, for we steered right before the Wind, which if it had shifted, we had