We were now reduc'd to the most deplorable and mallancholy Circumstance imaginable, almost every Man but myself, weak to an extremity, and near starved with Hunger and Cold; their Hands and Feet frozen and mortified, with large and deep ulcers in their legs (the very smell offensive to those of us, who could creep into the air) and nothing to dress them with, but a Piece of linnen that was cast on shoar. No Fire, and the weather extream cold; our small stock of Cheese spent, and nothing to support our feeble Bodies but Rock-weed and a few Muscles, scarce and difficult to get (at most, not above two or three for each man a day). So that we had our miserable bodies perishing, and our poor disconsolate spirits overpowered, with the deplorable Prospect of starving, without any appearance of relief: Besides, to heighten (if possible) the agravation we had reason to apprehend, lest the approaching Spring-Tide (if accompanied with high winds) should totally overflow us. How dismal such a circumstance must be, is imposible to express; the pinching cold and hunger, extremity of weakness and pain, racks and horror of conscience (to many) and foresight of certain and painful (but lingring) death, without any (even the most remote) views of deliverance. How heighten'd! How agravated is such Misery! and yet alas such was our deplorable Case: insomuch that the greater part of our company were ready to die with horror and despair, without the least hopes of escaping. For my own part, I did my utmost to encourage my self, and exhort the rest to trust in God and patiently wait for his salvation; and Providence, a little to aleviate our distress, and encourage our Faith, directed my Mate to strike down a Sea Gull, which he joyfully brought to me, and I equally divided every one a proportion; and (tho' raw and scarce every one a mouthful) yet we received and eat thankfully. The last method of safety we could possibly propose, was, the fixing a Raft that might carry two men, which was mightily urged by one of our men, a Sweed, a stout brave fellow, but had since our distress lost both his feet by the Frost; he frequently importun'd me, to attempt our deliverance in that way, offering himself to accompany me, or if I refused him, to go alone. After deliberate thoughts and consideration, we resolved upon a Raft, but found abundance of labour and difficulty in clearing the Fore-Yard (of which it was chiefly to be made) from the junk, by reason our working hands were so few and weak.