The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-06-20
From The .4dUentures ia Younger Son.
PERISHING WITH THIRST.

w
A long continued gale of wind drove us
down towards the coast of New Holland.
When il had broken, and while we were
laboring in the heavy swell which followed,
we disceIned a small boat, evidently in dis
tress, and we wore down to her aid. Ow-
ing to the swell, and the wind having mod
Grated, it was some time ere the Grab sue
ceede'l in getting along side of her, to take
her crew on board, which consisted of four
sailors and a masters mate. They belong
ed to an English lrigate, which, having cap
tured small brigantine, had put them on
board to take charge of her. The prize
had been separated from the frigate by a
waite sqnall IN the straits of Sunda, dam
aged IN her masts and rigging. A north
wester, against which they could make no
head, had driven them long way to the
southeast. In this hapless state, their
irall and crazy bark had been struck abaft
by heavy sea, which had loosened her
stern-post and shattered the framework in
her stern. The water poured in SO fast,
that 1t was only by the greatest prompti-
tdde and dexterity that they succeeded in
getting clumsy boat, which Law amidship
afioat, just us their vessel ,foundered. They
had no time TO secure any thing but them
selves; boy and two men were drowned,
probably in attempting to save something.
The boat was as old and worthless as
the vessel to which she belonged; and, till
she was somewhat seasoned in the water.
they were all occupied in bailing with their
caps, and in stuffing, with rags and coir-
.oakum, the crevices and rents which the
sun had made. Fortunately the boat, us
she lay on hoard, had been used as re-
ceptacle for spare canvass, OARS, light sails,
the lag END OF ropes, and, what was now of
lar greater lmportance,a coop with six ducks,
an Old grisiy goat, and hen, that had de-
miureiy laid its egg as an offering for its un-
uistufoed sanctuary in the sheltered part OF
inc now, where it had probably roasted for
years IN solitary security. The seamen
thanked Providence as they behed their
live stock. Being up to their knees in wa
ter, dripping with water, water having de-
stroyed their vessel, and now threatening
to overwhelm them in its foaming pillows.
and with an ocean of water ali around
them, some time elapsed ere the awful
words were uttered, "There is no fres,,
water in the boat" Every voice echoed
in preternaiural sounds, "There is no fresh
water J" Every eye wildly glanced at the
boat, and around the sea, and again WAS
despondingly muttered, E" There is no wa
ter! Oh, God ! we must perish %
Anticipated thirst soon parched their lips,
and their stout hearts quailed. Other dan
gers, past and present, were forgotten. A
leaky, rent, mlsshapen boat, hardly big
enough to contain their diminished crew, as
it lay floundering in the trough of the sea,
like harpooned porpoise, was nothing
if they had but water. Fortunately their
officer, though the youngest among them,
was the ablest and manifest, at least in
mind by which boon, nature had amply
compensated him for somewhat slender
and delicate form. He had spirit greater
than was contained in the broad breast of
the brawniest and bukiest. Evil fortune
had prosecuted him in many shapes she
kept him at the bottom of her wheel, but
could not crush him. He rallied the sunk
en- spirits of his men; he told them they
were near land; they had sails; there
was wind enough to fill them; the boat,
though broken, was buoy ant; they were
few in number thirst could be borne for
days ;-besides, they had live stock, and their
blood was nearly as refreshing as water {;
and the clouds G I'VE promise of rain. The
men knew their officer, and had confidence
in him. His calmness and fearless bearing
did more than his words. The hopes he
had so confidently expressed seemed real
lied. They grew calm, and their reason
and obedience were restored.
The mate having succeeded, if not in
rendering his boat water-tight, yet in d.
minishing the leaks, so that it required
but occasional bailing, next set about put
ting sail on the boat For this purpose he
selected an old flying jlb, and, with brok-
en- studding- ail-boom for mast, contrived
the best and safest form of carrying can
vass that could possibly be contrived, rep
resenting what sailors call shoulder-of-
mutton rig, the larger part Tor the body of
the sally being in the body of the boat. To
be driven in the South Indian ocean. des-
ert world of waters, was certain and inevi-
table destruction. In order to avoid this. it
was necessary, at all risks, to haul his wind
as much Ms possible to the eastward. with
an oar for rudder. With consummate
skill he in some degree effected this but
j: required an unerring eye and steady hand
to keep his rickety and rudderless boat
from being buried beneath the threatening
waves, or capsized by the furious blasts
which swept over it. They had neither
compass, chart, nor instruments to guide
them on their lonely way; nothing but the
sun-the latter, glazing and fiery, they hard
ly dared to look at. Their only hope was
to make one Of the Sunda Islands, or, fail
ing in that, the coast of New Holland, or
to he met by some wandering bark.
Thus day and night they toiled on, having
at long intervals, their white and parched
lips with the blood OF the painting goat,
which was itself expiring for want OF moist
nre. Every glazed eye scrutinized, with
horrible precision, the accuracy of the
measured allowance, apparently numbering
the red drops, as doled out by the officer in
scanty portions. The animal was then cut
up, and It's interior, which still contained
Jellled blood and some moisture, was bal
anced and divided with the care and ex-
actltude with which a miser weighs his
gold. The mate said he merely extracted
the fluid, chewing, but not swallowing the
substance, and endeavored TO impress on
his comrades the advantage of following
his example. A few did, but the greater
part could not control the fierceness Of fam
Inc raging in their vitals. "At this" the
mate added, "irom the torture | expert
enced, did not wonder; but the event
proved was in the right. For, by not eat
ing, endured thirst better and after few
days had no inclination 10 eas, feeling a
relief hy keeping some substance in my
mouth, no matter what, to chew tobacco,
of which there was little, was the hest.
We all watched with painful and intense
anxiety the formation and changes of the
clouds. Every speck in the heavens was