Myprincipalterrorwasnowonaccountofthesharks，whichI
　　knewtobeinmyvicinity。Inordertodeterthese，ifpossible，fromapproachingme，IsplashedthewatervigorouslywithbothhandsandfeetasIswamtowardsthehulk，creatingabodyoffoam。Ihavenodoubtthattothisexpedient，simpleasitwas，Iwasindebtedformypreservation；fortheseaallroundthebrig，justbeforeherrollingover，wassocrowdedwiththesemonsters，thatImusthavebeen，andreallywas，inactualcontactwithsomeofthemduringmyprogress。
　　Bygreatgoodfortune，however，Ireachedthesideofthevesselinsafety，althoughsoutterlyweakenedbytheviolentexertionIhadusedthatIshouldneverhavebeenabletogetuponitbutforthetimelyassistanceofPeters，who，now，tomygreatjoy，madehisappearancehavingscrambleduptothekeelfromtheoppositesideofthehull，andthrewmetheendofaropeoneofthosewhichhadbeenattachedtothespikes。
　　Havingbarelyescapedthisdanger，ourattentionwasnowdirectedtothedreadfulimminencyofanotherthatofabsolutestarvation。
　　Ourwholestockofprovisionhadbeensweptoverboardinspiteofallourcareinsecuringit；andseeingnolongertheremotestpossibilityofobtainingmore，wegavewaybothofustodespair，weepingaloudlikechildren，andneitherofusattemptingtoofferconsolationtotheother。Suchweaknesscanscarcelybeconceived，andtothosewhohaveneverbeensimilarlysituatedwill，nodoubt，appearunnatural；butitmustberememberedthatourintellectsweresoentirelydisorderedbythelongcourseofprivationandterrortowhichwehadbeensubjected，thatwecouldnotjustlybeconsidered，atthatperiod，inthelightofrationalbeings。Insubsequentperils，nearlyasgreat，ifnotgreater，Iboreupwithfortitudeagainstalltheevilsofmysituation，andPeters，itwillbeseen，evincedastoicalphilosophynearlyasincredibleashispresentchildlikesupinenessandimbecilitythementalconditionmadethedifference。
　　Theoverturningofthebrig，evenwiththeconsequentlossofthewineandturtle，wouldnot，infact，haverenderedoursituationmoredeplorablethanbefore，exceptforthedisappearanceofthebedclothesbywhichwehadbeenhithertoenabledtocatchrainwater，andofthejuginwhichwehadkeptitwhencaught；forwefoundthewholebottom，fromwithintwoorthreefeetofthebendsasfarasthekeel，togetherwiththekeelitself，thicklycoveredwithlargebarnacles，whichprovedtobeexcellentandhighlynutritiousfood。
　　Thus，intwoimportantrespects，theaccidentwehadsogreatlydreadedprovedtobeabenefitratherthananinjury；ithadopenedtousasupplyofprovisionswhichwecouldnothaveexhausted，usingitmoderately，inamonth；andithadgreatlycontributedtoourcomfortasregardsposition，webeingmuchmoreatease，andininfinitelylessdanger，thanbefore。
　　Thedifficulty，however，ofnowobtainingwaterblindedustoallthebenefitsofthechangeinourcondition。Thatwemightbereadytoavailourselves，asfaraspossible，ofanyshowerwhichmightfallwetookoffourshirts，tomakeuseofthemaswehadofthesheetsnothoping，ofcourse，togetmoreinthisway，evenunderthemostfavorablecircumstances，thanhalfagillatatime。Nosignsofacloudappearedduringtheday，andtheagoniesofourthirstwerenearlyintolerable。Atnight，Petersobtainedaboutanhour’sdisturbedsleep，butmyintensesufferingswouldnotpermitmetoclosemyeyesforasinglemoment。
　　August5。To-day，agentlebreezespringingupcarriedusthroughavastquantityofseaweed，amongwhichweweresofortunateastofindelevensmallcrabs，whichaffordedusseveraldeliciousmeals。
　　Theirshellsbeingquitesoft，weatethementire，andfoundthattheyirritatedourthirstfarlessthanthebarnacles。Seeingnotraceofsharksamongtheseaweed，wealsoventuredtobathe，andremainedinthewaterforfourorfivehours，duringwhichweexperiencedaverysensiblediminutionofourthirst。Weregreatlyrefreshed，andspentthenightsomewhatmorecomfortablythanbefore，bothofussnatchingalittlesleep。
　　August6。Thisdaywewereblessedbyabriskandcontinualrain，lastingfromaboutnoonuntilafterdark。Bitterlydidwenowregretthelossofourjugandcarboy；for，inspiteofthelittlemeanswehadofcatchingthewater，wemighthavefilledone，ifnotbothofthem。Asitwas，wecontrivedtosatisfythecravingsofthirstbysufferingtheshirtstobecomesaturated，andthenwringingthemsoastoletthegratefulfluidtrickleintoourmouths。Inthisoccupationwepassedtheentireday。
　　August7。Justatdaybreakwebothatthesameinstantdescriedasailtotheeastward，and_evidentlycomingtowardsus！_Wehailedtheglorioussightwithalong，althoughfeebleshoutofrapture；andbeganinstantlytomakeeverysignalinourpower，byflaringtheshirtsintheair，leapingashighasourweakconditionwouldpermit，andevenbyhallooingwithallthestrengthofourlungs，althoughthevesselcouldnothavebeenlessthanfifteenmilesdistant。However，shestillcontinuedtonearourhulk，andwefeltthat，ifshebutheldherpresentcourse，shemusteventuallycomesocloseastoperceiveus。Inaboutanhourafterwefirstdiscoveredher，wecouldclearlyseethepeopleonherdecks。Shewasalong，low，andrakish-lookingtopsailschooner，withablackballinherforetopsail，andhad，apparently，afullcrew。Wenowbecamealarmed，forwecouldhardlyimagineitpossiblethatshedidnotobserveus，andwereapprehensivethatshemeanttoleaveustoperishaswewereanactoffiendishbarbarity，which，howeverincredibleitmayappear，hasbeenrepeatedlyperpetuatedatsea，undercircumstancesverynearlysimilar，andbybeingswhowereregardedasbelongingtothehumanspecies。{*2}Inthisinstance，however，bythemercyofGod，weweredestinedtobemosthappilydeceived；for，presentlywewereawareofasuddencommotiononthedeckofthestranger，whoimmediatelyafterwardranupaBritishflag，and，haulingherwind，boreupdirectlyuponus。Inhalfanhourmorewefoundourselvesinhercabin。SheprovedtobetheJaneGuy，ofLiverpool，CaptainGuy，boundonasealingandtradingvoyagetotheSouthSeasandPacific。
　　THE_JaneGuy_wasafine-lookingtopsailschoonerofahundredandeightytonsburden。Shewasunusuallysharpinthebows，andonawind，inmoderateweather，thefastestsailerIhaveeverseen。Herqualities，however，asaroughsea-boat，werenotsogood，andherdraughtofwaterwasbyfartoogreatforthetradetowhichshewasdestined。Forthispeculiarservice，alargervessel，andoneofalightproportionatedraught，isdesirable-sayavesseloffromthreehundredtothreehundredandfiftytons。Sheshouldbebark-rigged，andinotherrespectsofadifferentconstructionfromtheusualSouthSeaships。Itisabsolutelynecessarythatsheshouldbewellarmed。Sheshouldhave，saytenortwelvetwelve-poundcarronades，andtwoorthreelongtwelves，withbrassblunderbusses，andwater-tightarm-chestsforeachtop。Heranchorsandcablesshouldbeoffargreaterstrengththanisrequiredforanyotherspeciesoftrade，and，aboveall，hercrewshouldbenumerousandefficient-notless，forsuchavesselasIhavedescribed，thanfiftyorsixtyable-bodiedmen。TheJaneGuyhadacrewofthirty-five，allableseamen，besidesthecaptainandmate，butshewasnotaltogetheraswellarmedorotherwiseequipped，asanavigatoracquaintedwiththedifficultiesanddangersofthetradecouldhavedesired。
　　CaptainGuywasagentlemanofgreaturbanityofmanner，andofconsiderableexperienceinthesoutherntraffic，towhichhehaddevotedagreatportionofhislife。Hewasdeficient，however，inenergy，and，consequently，inthatspiritofenterprisewhichisheresoabsolutelyrequisite。Hewaspartownerofthevesselinwhichhesailed，andwasinvestedwithdiscretionarypowerstocruiseintheSouthSeasforanycargowhichmightcomemostreadilytohand。Hehadonboard，asusualinsuchvoyages，beads，looking-glasses，tinder-works，axes，hatchets，saws，adzes，planes，chisels，gouges，gimlets，files，spokeshaves，rasps，hammers，nails，knives，scissors，razors，needles，thread，crockery-ware，calico，trinkets，andothersimilararticles。
　　TheschoonersailedfromLiverpoolonthetenthofJuly，crossedtheTropicofCanceronthetwenty-fifth，inlongitudetwentydegreeswest，andreachedSal，oneoftheCapeVerdislands，onthetwenty-ninth，whereshetookinsaltandothernecessariesforthevoyage。OnthethirdofAugust，shelefttheCapeVerdsandsteeredsouthwest，stretchingovertowardthecoastofBrazil，soastocrosstheequatorbetweenthemeridiansoftwenty-eightandthirtydegreeswestlongitude。ThisisthecourseusuallytakenbyvesselsboundfromEuropetotheCapeofGoodHope，orbythatroutetotheEastIndies。ByproceedingthustheyavoidthecalmsandstrongcontrarycurrentswhichcontinuallyprevailonthecoastofGuinea，while，intheend，itisfoundtobetheshortesttrack，aswesterlywindsareneverwantingafterwardbywhichtoreachtheCape。ItwasCaptainGuy’sintentiontomakehisfirststoppageatKerguelen’sLand-I
　　hardlyknowforwhatreason。OnthedaywewerepickeduptheschoonerwasoffCapeSt。Roque，inlongitudethirty-onedegreeswest；sothat，whenfound，wehaddriftedprobably，fromnorthtosouth，_notlessthanfive-and-twentydegrees！_
　　OnboardtheJaneGuyweweretreatedwithallthekindnessourdistressedsituationdemanded。Inaboutafortnight，duringwhichtimewecontinuedsteeringtothesoutheast，withgentlebreezesandfineweather，bothPetersandmyselfrecoveredentirelyfromtheeffectsofourlateprivationanddreadfulsufferings，andwebegantorememberwhathadpassedratherasafrightfuldreamfromwhichwehadbeenhappilyawakened，thanaseventswhichhadtakenplaceinsoberandnakedreality。Ihavesincefoundthatthisspeciesofpartialoblivionisusuallybroughtaboutbysuddentransition，whetherfromjoytosorroworfromsorrowtojoy-thedegreeofforgetfulnessbeingproportionedtothedegreeofdifferenceintheexchange。Thus，inmyowncase，InowfeelitimpossibletorealizethefullextentofthemiserywhichIenduredduringthedaysspentuponthehulk。Theincidentsareremembered，butnotthefeelingswhichtheincidentselicitedatthetimeoftheiroccurrence。Ionlyknow，thatwhentheydidoccur，Ithenthoughthumannaturecouldsustainnothingmoreofagony。
　　Wecontinuedourvoyageforsomeweekswithoutanyincidentsofgreatermomentthantheoccasionalmeetingwithwhaling-ships，andmorefrequentlywiththeblackorrightwhale，socalledincontradistinctiontothespermaceti。These，however，werechieflyfoundsouthofthetwenty-fifthparallel。OnthesixteenthofSeptember，beinginthevicinityoftheCapeofGoodHope，theschoonerencounteredherfirstgaleofanyviolencesinceleavingLiverpool。Inthisneighborhood，butmorefrequentlytothesouthandeastofthepromontoryweweretothewestward，navigatorshaveoftentocontendwithstormsfromthenorthward，whichragewithgreatfury。Theyalwaysbringwiththemaheavysea，andoneoftheirmostdangerousfeaturesistheinstantaneouschoppingroundofthewind，anoccurrencealmostcertaintotakeplaceduringthegreatestforceofthegale。Aperfecthurricanewillbeblowingatonemomentfromthenorthwardornortheast，andinthenextnotabreathofwindwillbefeltinthatdirection，whilefromthesouthwestitwillcomeoutallatoncewithaviolencealmostinconceivable。Abrightspottothesouthwardisthesureforerunnerofthechange，andvesselsarethusenabledtotaketheproperprecautions。
　　Itwasaboutsixinthemorningwhentheblowcameonwithawhitesquall，and，asusual，fromthenorthward。Byeightithadincreasedverymuch，andbroughtdownuponusoneofthemosttremendousseasIhadtheneverbeheld。Everythinghadbeenmadeassnugaspossible，buttheschoonerlabouredexcessively，andgaveevidenceofherbadqualitiesasaseaboat，pitchingherforecastleunderateveryplungeandwiththegreatestdifficultystrugglingupfromonewavebeforeshewasburiedinanother。justbeforesunsetthebrightspotforwhichwehadbeenonthelook-outmadeitsappearanceinthesouthwest，andinanhourafterwardweperceivedthelittleheadsailwecarriedflappinglistlesslyagainstthemast。
　　Intwominutesmore，inspiteofeverypreparation，wewerehurledonourbeam-ends，asifbymagic，andaperfectwildernessoffoammadeaclearbreachoverusaswelay。Theblowfromthesouthwest，however，luckilyprovedtobenothingmorethanasquall，andwehadthegoodfortunetorightthevesselwithoutthelossofaspar。A
　　heavycrossseagaveusgreattroubleforafewhoursafterthis，buttowardmorningwefoundourselvesinnearlyasgoodconditionasbeforethegale。CaptainGuyconsideredthathehadmadeanescapelittlelessthanmiraculous。
　　OnthethirteenthofOctoberwecameinsightofPrinceEdward’sIsland，inlatitude46degrees53’S。，longitude37degrees46’E。
　　TwodaysafterwardwefoundourselvesnearPossessionIsland，andpresentlypassedtheislandsofCrozet，inlatitude42degrees59’
　　S。，longitude48degreesE。OntheeighteenthwemadeKerguelen’sorDesolationIsland，intheSouthernIndianOcean，andcametoanchorinChristmasHarbour，havingfourfathomsofwater。