to escape the Cossacks, is present to my fancy.  My head hung over the sea; the noise of the waves dashing against our frail bark, produced on my senses the effect of a torrent falling from the summit of a mountain.  I thought I was going to plunge into it.  This pleasing illusion was not complete; I awoke, and in what a state!  I raised my head with pain; I open my ulcerated lips, and my parched tongue finds on them only a bitter crust of salt, instead of a little of that water which I had seen in my dream.  The moment was dreadful, and my despair was extreme.  I thought of throwing myself into the sea, to terminate at once all my sufferings.  This despair was of short duration, there was more courage in suffering.

A hollow noise, which we heard in the distance, increased the horrors of this night.  Our fears, that it might be the bar of the Senegal, hindered us from making so much way as we might have done.  This was a great error:  the noise proceeded from the breakers which are met with on all the coasts of Africa.  We found afterwards, that we were above sixty leagues from the Senegal. (B)

[B9] XIX.—­Page 162.—­Stranding of the Long-Boat, and Two other Boats.

Our situation did not change till the eighth; we suffered more and more from thirst.  The officer desired me to make a list, and to call the people to distribute the allowance of water; every one came and drank what was given him.  I held my list under the tin cap, to catch the drops which fell, and moisten my lips with them.  Some persons attempted to drink sea water; I am of opinion that they did but hasten the moment of their destruction.

About the middle of the day, on the 8th of July, one of our boats sailed in company with the long-boat.  The people on board suffered more than we, and resolved to go on shore and get water if possible; but the sailors mutinied and insisted on being landed at once:  they had drank nothing for two days.  The officers wished to oppose it; the sailors were armed with their sabres.  A dreadful butchery was on the point of taking place on board this unfortunate boat.  The two sails were hoisted in order to strand more speedily upon the coast, every body reached the shore, the boat filled with water and was abandoned.

This example, fatal to us, gave our sailors an inclination to do the same.  Mr. Espiau consented to land them; he hoped to be able afterwards with the little water that remained, and by working the vessel ourselves, to reach the Senegal.  We therefore placed ourselves round this little water, and took our swords to defend it.  We advanced near to the breakers, the anchor was got up, and the officer gave orders to let the boat’s painter go gently, the sailors on the contrary, either let the rope go at once, or cut it.  Our boat being no longer checked, was carried into the first breaker.  The water passed over our heads, and three quarters filled the boat:  it did not sink.  Immediately we hoisted a sail which carried us through the other breakers.  The boat entirely filled and sunk, but there was only four feet water; every body leaped into the sea, and no one perished.