the masts to be cut away, which was promptly done, and fortunately
without causing any injury in their fall. After this, the ship became
more easy, although the sea still made a clean breach over her.
Captain Colville saw that the slightest alteration in her position
would be attended with imminent danger, and he therefore ordered the
bower anchors to be let go--her head then swung to the wind, and this
enabled her to settle gradually on the sand, where she lay
comparatively easy. Darkness was fast gathering around, and the hearts
of the crew were becoming dreary and hopeless.

Nor sail nor shore appeared in sight,
Nought but the heavy sea and coming night.

When the tide flowed, no part of the ship below the quarter-deck was
accessible. To add to the misery of their situation, out of the four
bags of bread which had been put for safety into the cabin, one only
could be got upon deck, and that one was so soaked in salt water, that
the bread could scarcely be eaten. This, with two cheeses, and a few
gallons of wine, composed the whole of their stock of provisions, and
during the day they had had no leisure to take refreshment of any
kind.

Such was the condition of the crew of the Romney, who passed that
awful night on the quarter-deck, the starboard side of which was under
water at high tide. The wind blew in violent gusts; sleet and rain
were falling, and the sea dashed over the vessel every instant.
Although the men were shivering with cold and hunger, not a murmur
escaped their lips, not a whisper of complaint; but they patiently
awaited the break of day. At length the morning dawned, and with it
hope dawned upon the hearts of those patient sufferers, for the wind