the lots being unfolded, M'Kinnon was No. 5.

'It is needless to shock and horrify the feelings of our readers, by entering into minute details concerning the terrible expedient to which we found ourselves, however unwillingly, compelled to resort. The love of life is strong in all men, but more especially do they seem to cling to it when there is every appearance of its speedy termination; and those who are most familiar with the vicissitudes of a sailor's lot, those who are best acquainted with the frequent calamities which overtake those who spend their lives at sea, know well to what desperate remedies shipwrecked men have resorted to allay the cravings of hunger and thirst, and to prolong for a brief period a most miserable existence. Imagination must now supply the place of facts, and realize as far as possible the dreadful situation of myself and comrades, which lasted till the morning of the 8th, when, it being my watch, and observing the water about break of day to change colour, I called the rest, thinking we were near shore, but saw no land, it not being quite daylight.

'As soon as day appeared, we discovered land right ahead, and steering towards it, about eight in the morning we were close to the shore. There being a very heavy surf, we endeavoured to turn the boat's head to it; but being very weak, we were unable. Soon after the boat up

set. Myself, Conway, and Parr succeeded in getting on shore, but Mr. Quin and Brighouse were both drowned. We discovered a small hut on the beach, in which was an Indian and his mother, who spoke Portuguese, and I, understanding that language, learned that there was a village about three miles distant called Belmont. This Indian went to the village, and gave information that the French had landed; and in about two hours, the governor of the village, a clergyman, with several armed men, took Conway and Parr prisoners, tying them up by their hands and feet, and slinging them on a bamboo stick, and in this manner took them to the village. I, being very weak, remained in the hut some time, but was afterwards taken. On our telling them we were English, we were immediately released, and three hammocks provided. We were taken in them to the governor's house, who let us lie on his own bed, and gave us milk and rice to eat. Not having eaten anything for a considerable time, we were lockjawed, and continued so till the 23d, during which time the governor wrote to the governor of St. Salvador, who sent a small schooner to a place called Port Sequro, to take us to St. Salvador. We continued there about thirteen days, during which time the inhabitants made up a subscription of £200 for each man. We then embarked in the Maria, a Portuguese ship, for Lisbon, Parr as mate, Con

way boatswain's mate; myself, being sickly, a passenger. In thirteen days we arrived at Rio de Janeiro. I was determined to give myself up the first opportunity, in order to relate my sufferings to the men of this garrison, to deter them from ever altempting so mad a scheme.'

THE SCHOONER'S MEN AND THE

SHARKS.

A small schooner, called the Magpie, was cruising between the Island of Cuba and the Havannah, in search of pirates. One evening, the sea and the air were so calm, that the vessel lay on the bosom of the water like a huge animal asleep, with her head towards the shore. The crew were engaged in telling those marvellous stories which sailors believe, and never fail to narrate to each other in the hours of idleness; for such occasionally visit even the mariner afloat. Lieutenant Smith, the commander, who had been on the look-out for the pirate ship as long as twilight allowed him to do so, laid aside his glass and descended into the cabin. All above and below and around was now lulled as in slumber, for the laugh and the voice of the story-teller had become silent; presently the mate, who was on deck, observed a small black cloud resting over the land. The cloud was gradually increasing; and although the mate saw no ground to apprehend danger, he thought

it right to communicate the fact to his superior officer, believing that the land breeze was about to set in with unusual strength. Mr. Smith desired him to keep a sharp look-out, and he would join him on deck immediately. A moment after, a squall, as strong as it was sudden, burst from the cloud; and just as Mr. Smith had ascended to the deck, the schooner was upset, and im-. mediately sunk.

Two of the crew were below, and they went down with her. The others, twenty-two in number, were left struggling with the shipless deep; for the squall had passed, and sky and sea were again tranquil. It was now discovered that the boat had parted from the vessel, and floated. A rush was made towards her, and several of the men attempted to get into her on the same side. The consequence was that she became half full of water, upset, rolled over and over, and at length lay with her keel upwards. Some got across her keel, others supported themselves by holding on to her with their hands, and thus all were for a time safe.

Mr. Smith now reminded the crew that it was impossible for them to remain long in this predicament, and exhorted them to right the boat and bale out the water from her. He was immediately attended to; the men on the keel relinquished their seats, the boat was turned over, and two men were ordered into her to bale out the water.

the exception of two, who succeeded in righting the boat and getting into her. They immediately began baling, and worked until they were nearly exhausted. The sharks swam round the boat and endeavoured to upset her, but failing, and perhaps gorged already, at length departed. The men worked at intervals, until the boat was nearly free from water, and then lay down and slept until after daylight. The morning was fine but sultry. The men were hungry, thirsty, and fatigued. They looked around them. An unbroken ocean, a cloudless sky, and a burning sun were all that were within their view. They began to think of the only resource remaining for either to kill his comrade and devour his flesh. They were men of equal strength, and both had knives. Each, however, seemed unwilling to resort to this horrible expedient, except in the last extremity. The man at the stern -for they were separated in mutual apprehension by nearly the whole length of the boatknelt down and prayed, and his comrade followed the example. As the morning wore on, they suffered intensely from thirst, and aggravated their suffering by attempting to allay it with The madness of despair was beginning to develope itself in one of them, when a sail appeared in sight, which afterwards proved to be a brig steering towards them. One flung his jacket in the air, while

salt water.

the other hailed again and again; and sometimes both hailed together, although the brig was at such a distance that it was not possible their cry should be heard. She approached nearer and nearer; and so riveted were their minds on the brig, that hunger and thirst were forgotten in the excitement of hope. The people on board the ship appeared to notice them; but just as they had reason to think this was the case, she changed her course, and hoisted additional sail.

Still they attempted to gain her attention, and endeavoured to propel the boat with their hands. But all was in vain. The ship was becoming every moment more distant, and their chance of release from their terrible condition became fainter.

At this moment, one of the sailors conceived the bold project of swimming to the brig, which was by this time two miles and a half from them. His comrade remonstrated with him, so wild and hopeless did the undertaking appear to him, especially as the fins of sharks were again seen here and there above the water. After a little hesitation, caused by the appeal of his shipmate, and a short prayer, he jumped over. The splash occasioned by his doing so caused the sharks to disappear, and the man in the boat well knew that they were in search of his comrade. Immediately after, three of them passed the boat towards him. With the greatest anxiety the

sailor in the boat watched his messmate; he swam well, kicking and splashing as he went to frighten the sharks. Once he beheld one of them close to him; but he only swam the faster, and kicked the more vigorously. The wind had freshened, the brig was sailing more fleetly, his cries were unheard by her crew, and he began to think he must yield himself a prey to the sharks. While this melancholy thought was passing through his mind, he saw a man look over the side of the vessel; to attract his attention, he held up both his hands, jumped up in the water, and used every means in his power likely to attain his end. He was successful; a boat was put out, the brave swimmer was picked up, and was soon joined by his comrade on board the brig. The sharks were defrauded of their prey. The brave survivors of the Magpie's crew were tried by court-martial; and as a reward for their perseverance, gallantry, and obedience to their commander in circumstances of such peculiar peril, promoted to be warrant officers.

A WONDERFUL PRESERVATION.

'A number of years ago,' said Captain M, 'I was bound in a fine stout ship of about four hundred tons burden, from the port of P to Liverpool. The ship had a valuable cargo on board, and about ninety thousand dollars in specie. I

had been prevented, by other urgent business, from giving much of my attention to the vessel while loading and equipping for the voyage, but was very particular in my directions to the chief mate (in whom I had great confidence, he having sailed with me some years) to avoid entering, if possible, any but native American seamen. When we were about to sail, he informed me that he had not been able to comply with my directions entirely in this particular, but had shipped two foreigners as seamen-one a native of Guernsey, and the other a Frenchman from Brittany. I was pleased, however, with the appearance of the crew generally, and particularly with the foreigners. They were both stout and able-bodied men, and were particularly alert and attentive to orders.

"The passage commenced auspiciously, and promised to be a speedy one, as we took a fine steady westerly wind soon after we lost soundings. To my great sorrow and uneasiness, I soon discovered in the foreigners a change of conduct for the worse. They became insolent to the mates, and appeared to be frequently under the excitement of liquor, and had evidently acquired an undue influence with the rest of the men. Their intemperance soon became intolerable; and as it was evident that they had brought liquor on board with them, I determined upon search