seven, and six.  In a little while, as she did not sink, we ventured on board again, and, by scuttling the deck, were enabled to get out some biscuit, beef, water, rum, two sextants, a quadrant, and three compasses.  These, together with some rigging, a few muskets, powder, etc., we brought away; and, dividing the stores among our three small crews, rigged the boats as well as we could; there being a compass for each, and a sextant for two, and a quadrant for one, but neither sextant nor quadrant for the third.[42] Then, instead of pushing away for some port, so amazed and bewildered were we that we continued sitting in our places gazing upon the ship, as though she had been an object of the tenderest affection.  Our eyes could not leave her, till, at the end of many hours, she gave a slight reel, then down she sank.  No words can tell our feelings.  We looked at each other—­we looked at the place where she had so lately been afloat—­and we did not cease to look, till the terrible conviction of our abandoned and perilous situation roused us to exertion, if deliverance were yet possible.

’We now consulted about the course which it might be best to take—­westward to India, eastward to South America, or south-westward to the Society Isles.  We knew that we were at no great distance from Tahiti, but were so ignorant of the state and temper of the inhabitants, that we feared we should be devoured by cannibals, if we cast ourselves on their mercy.  It was determined, therefore, to make for South America, which we computed to be more than two thousand miles distant.  Accordingly we steered eastward, and though for several days harassed with squalls, we contrived to keep together.  It was not long before we found that one of the boats had started a plank, which was no wonder, for whale-boats are all clinker-built, and very slight, being made of half-inch plank only, before planing.  To remedy this alarming defect we all turned to, and having emptied the damaged boat into the two others, we raised her side as well as we could, and succeeded in restoring the plank at the bottom.  Through this accident, some of our biscuit had become injured by the salt-water.  This was equally divided among the several boats’ crews.  Food and water, meanwhile, with our utmost economy, rapidly failed.  Our strength was exhausted, not by abstinence only, but by the labours which we were obliged to employ to keep our little vessels afloat amidst the storms which repeatedly assailed us.  One night we were parted in rough weather; but though the next day we fell in with one of our companion-boats, we never saw or heard any more of the other, which probably perished at sea, being without either sextant or quadrant.[43]