Soon after, a vessel approached, and their hearts beat high with the hope of deliverance.  All her sails were set, and she came down before the wind, steering right for the rock.  They made repeated signals of distress, and the vessel hove to, and hoisted out her boat.  They hastily prepared rafts to carry them through the surf, confident that the boat was provided with supplies to relieve them.  The boat came within pistol-shot, full of men dressed in the European fashion.  But what were their indignation and grief, when the person who steered, after gazing at them a few minutes, waved his hat, and then rowed off to the ship!  Their misery was increased by seeing the crew of the stranger-vessel employed in collecting the floating fragments of the wreck.  After this grievous disappointment, their only hopes lay in the return of the boat.  They looked in vain; not a glimpse of her was to be seen.  A raging thirst tormented them; and some, in spite of warning, drank salt water; raging madness soon followed, and their agonies were terminated by death.  Another awful night was passed by them.  To preserve themselves from the cold, they huddled close together, and covered themselves with their few remaining rags.  They were haunted by the ravings of those who had drunk the sea-water, whom they tried in vain to pacify.

About twelve o’clock, the crew of the whale-boat hailed them; they cried out in their agony for water.  They could not procure it, for those in the boat had none but earthen vessels, which could not be conveyed through the surf.  They were assured that they would be taken off by a fishing vessel next morning; but there seemed to be little chance of their surviving till then.

In the morning, the sun for the first time shone upon the rock.  They waited hour after hour, but there was no appearance either of the boat or the vessel.  Famine consumed them; but they looked with loathing on the only means of appeasing it.  When, however, the day wore on, after praying for forgiveness of the sinful act, they were compelled to feed on one of their number who had died the preceding night.  Several expired towards evening; among whom were the captain and first lieutenant.  During the night, some thought of constructing a raft which might carry them to Cerigotto.  The wind seemed favorable; and to perish in the waters seemed preferable to remaining to die a lingering death from hunger and thirst.  At daylight, as fast as their feeble strength permitted, they prepared to put their plan in execution, by lashing together a number of larger spars.  Scarcely had they launched it, when it was destroyed.  Five, rendered desperate, embarked on a few spars hastily lashed together, which gave them scarcely room to stand; they were soon carried away by unknown currents, and were no more heard of.

In the afternoon the whale-boat came again in sight.  The crew told them that they had experienced great difficulty in persuading the Greek fishermen of Cerigotto to venture to put to sea, because of the stormy weather; but they gave them hopes, that if the weather moderated, the boats would come next day.  Before they had done speaking, twelve men plunged from the rock into the sea, and nearly reached the boat; two were taken in, one was drowned, and the rest were so fortunate as to recover their former station.