“But you took a little of the lead?”
“Well, I did. Others also gave their opinion.”
Among the “others” who gave counsel was John King.
“How did you manage to steer?”
“Chiefly by the ‘pointers’ to the N.E.”
JOHN KING.
It was a fearful struggle for life that the brave seamen now engaged in, as, with parched lips and every nerve strained to its highest pitch of tension, they rose and fell with the green waves still running mountains high. It seemed almost hopeless to attempt to withstand any longer the fury of the sea, which broke over them in angry surges. As we have said, they had but a quart of water on board, and the bottles of spirits. It was a fortunate thing that young Edwards succeeded in getting hold of these and concealing them, for the probability is, that had the seamen given way to drink in their then excited state, raving delirium would have set in, and cutter and crew would soon have been at the bottom. The lad shall tell his own story, and he is worthy of lasting honour and remembrance for his part in it.
“Daniell agreed to be our hammock man. He sat by me and was pulling the bow-oar. There was a bag of biscuits weighing two cwt., two bottles of brandy, and two of champagne, some turnips and carrots, in the boat. There was some water also on board, but it was thrown out. I picked up three of the bottles and put them under my coat. Mr. Greenhill and Daniell knew I had them, but the others did not.”
“Your conduct was very commendable,” said Mr. Traill, “and you did quite right in trying to keep the bottles of spirit away from the men. You have begun your career unfortunately, but I hope you may hereafter succeed as you deserve to do.”