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[Page 346]

342
Becalmed off the Reef.

we found the ship carried by the waves surprizingly fast  so that by 6 o'clock we were within a Cables lengh of them  driving on as fast as ever & still no ground with 100 fathm of line  Every method had been taken since we first saw our danger to get the boats out in hopes that they might tow us off but it was not yet acomplishd  the Pinnace had had a Plank strippd off her for repair & the longboat under the Booms was lashd & fastned so well from our supposd security that she was not yet got out. two large Oars or sweeps were got out at the stern ports to pull the ships head round the other way in hopes that might delay till the boats were out  all this while we were approaching & came I beleive before this could be effected within 40 yards of the breaker  the same sea that washd the side of the ship rose in a breaker enormously high the very next time is did rise  so between us & it was only a dismal valley the breadth of one wave  even now the lead was hove 3 or 4 lines fastned together but no ground could be felt with above 150 fathm. now was our case truly desperate

 

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