the boat had to struggle with a tempestuous sea for six hours, during which time we expected every minute to witness her destruction. The Falkland Island affair was yet fresh in our {51} minds, and this seemed to equal, if not surpass it in cruelty. At length, however, the ship bore down, and with much difficulty rescued the boat's crew from a watery grave.
{52} CHAPTER IV[11]
Departure from the Sandwich Islands—Bad weather—Live
stock destroyed—Columbia River—A boat and
crew lost—Captain's conduct towards Mr. Fox—Mouth
of the river—Bar and breakers—Cape Disappointment—Point
Adams—Narrow escape of the
long boat—Sounding the bar—A boat and crew left
to perish—The ship in the breakers—Critical situation—Melancholy
narrative of Steven Weeks—Search
made for the lost boat, and narrow escape—Long
boat swamped—Fidelity of the natives—Preparations
for leaving the ship—Captain Thorn—The
voyage concluded.
On the 1st of March, 1811, we took our departure from the Sandwich Islands; steering direct for Columbia River. The first step taken, after leaving the land, was to liberate those who had been put in irons. Poor fellows! they considered themselves particularly unfortunate, and doubly punished, in not having been partakers of the pleasures which the others had enjoyed on shore. All our thoughts now tended to one point; and the hope of soon terminating a long and irksome voyage made us forget all former misunderstandings, and a few days passed in harmony and good-fellowship, until the 12th, when the weather be-*
