A sailor who had refused to embark upon the raft, attempted also to reach the shore some days after the first; he put himself on a chicken coop, but he sunk within half a cable’s length of the frigate.

Four men resolved not to leave the Medusa, alledging that they preferred dying on board, to braving new dangers which it seemed impossible for them to surmount.  One of the four had just died when the schooner arrived, his body had been thrown into the sea:  the three others were very weak; two days later they would have been no more.  These unhappy men occupied each a separate place, and never left it but to fetch provisions, which in the last days consisted only of a little brandy, tallow, and salt pork.  When they met, they ran upon each other brandishing their knifes.  As long as the wine had lasted with the other provisions, they had kept up their strength perfectly well; but as soon as they had only brandy to drink they grew weaker every day.[41]

Every care was bestowed on these three men that their situation demanded, and all three are now in perfect health.

After having given the necessary succours to the three men of whom we have just spoken, they proceeded to get out of the frigate, every thing that could be removed; they cut a large hole in her, (on la saborda,) and were thus able to save wine, flour, and many other things.  Mr. Correa had the simplicity to think that the shipwrecked people were going to recover a part, at least, of their effects, since a vessel, belonging to the king, had reached the frigate.  But far from it!  Those who were on board declared themselves corsairs, and pillaged, as we may say, all the effects which they could get at.  One of them Mr. ------, carried off several portmanteaus, and four hammocks, full of all kind of articles, the whole for his own use.

The schooner having quite completed its cargo, and all attempts to recover the 100,000 francs, of which we have spoken, being fruitless, returned to Senegal.  We saw this little vessel arrive, and our hearts beat with joy; we thought we should see again our unfortunate companions, who had been abandoned on board the frigate, and recover some clothes, of which we were in much need.  The schooner passed the bar, and in an hour or two had traversed the space which separated it from us.  In an instant we ran to the port, and enquired if any of our unfortunate countrymen had been saved.  We were answered, three are still living, and fourteen have died since our departure:  this answer confounded us.  We then asked if it had been possible to save any of our effects; and were answered, yes, but that they were a good prize; we could not understand this answer, but it was repeated to us, and we learnt for the first time that we were at war with Frenchmen, because we had been excessively unfortunate.