In This Forlorn State A Great Storm
Arose, And The Bermuda Dragging Her Anchors Ran Foul Of Us, And Broke In
Our Stem And Her Own Stern.
It pleased GOD that we got the ships loosened
again, though with much difficulty, owing to the rough sea
And high wind.
Although we let go all our anchors none would hold but the sheet anchor,
and when day returned we discovered that its cable held only by one strand,
so that if the night had continued an hour longer it must have given way,
and the sea being all full of rocks, we could not fail to have been dashed
in pieces upon some of those astern. But it pleased GOD to deliver us here
as he had done before from many dangers.
Sailing from hence with great toil, we came to an Indian town on the coast
of Cuba named Mataia, where we procured some refreshments; and as the
winds and currents set so strong towards the west that we could not
possibly stand for Hispaniola, we now sailed for Jamaica as our only hope
of preserving our lives. The ships were now so worm-eaten and leaky that
we never ceased working day and night at all the three pumps in both ships;
and when any of the pumps gave way, we were forced to supply the
deficiency while it was mending by bailing out the water in buckets and
kettles. Notwithstanding all this labour, on the night before midsummer
eve, the water gained on as and came up almost to our deck.
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