weight; but as this was not sufficient, we continued to lighten
her by every method we could think of. By that time she begun to
make water as much as two pumps could free. At noon she lay with
three streaks heel to starboard. Lat obs'ed, 15 degrees 45 So."
This was off what Cook called Cape Tribulation, and on the two following
days these entries appear:--
"Light airs and fine weather, which gave us an opportunity to
carry out boath the bowers, the one on the starboard quarter and
the other right astern. The spare stream anchor we likewise
carried out, and got purchases upon all the cables, and hove
taught upon all the 5 anchors. At 4 it was low water, so far as we
could judge by the rocks about the ship and part of the shoal
being dry, which we had not seen before. The rise and fall of the
water did not appear to exceed 3 or 4 feet. As the tide began to
rise the leak incresed, which obliged us to set the 3rd pump to
work, which we should have done the 4th also could we have made it
deliver any water. The ship now righted, and the leak gained on
the pumps in such a manner that it became a matter of
consideration whether we should heave her off or no in case she
floated, for fear of her going down with us in the deep water; but
as I thought we should be able to run her ashore, either upon the
same shoal or upon the main, in case we could not keep her, I
resolved at all risks to heave her off if possible, and
accordingly tur'nd as many men to the capstan and windlass as
could be spar'd from the pumps, and at 20 minutes past ten hove
her afloat and into deep water." (He did not do this without
losing his anchors, as he tells us, but)
"The pumps gain'd on the leak these 4 hours. Some hands employ'd
sowing oakem, wool, etc., into a sail to fother the ship. Weigh'd
the coasting anchor and warped out to the S.E., and at 11 got
under sail, with a light breeze at E.S.E., and stood in for the
land, having a small boat laying upon the point of the shoal, the
south point of which at noon bore north, distant one mile. The
pumps gain'd upon the leak this 4 hours. Light airs and clear
weather. Standing off the shore in for the main. Got up the main
topmast and main-yard. Having got the sail ready for fothering the
ship, we put it over under the starboard fore chains, where we
suspected she suffer'd most, and soon after the leak decreas'd so
much as to be kept clear with one pump with ease. This fortunate
circumstance gave new life to everyone on board. Anchor'd in 17
fathom water, 5 leagues from the land, and about 3 miles from the
shore."
On the 17th they found a harbour where they hove the ship down and
repaired her, when it was found that--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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