board, and the boat resumed her course. The wind was drawing down the
river, remaining nearly in the same point from which it had blown in
the morning, and they were obliged in consequence to pursue a zig-zag
course, tackling from one shore to the other. It blew fresh, and the
little vessel, gunwale down, with the water sometimes pouring over the
lee side, flew like a bird. They had run two-thirds of the distance,
nor was the sun yet set, when the wind, which, till then, had blown
pretty steadily, began to intermit and come in flaws or puffs, now
driving the small craft with great rapidity, and now urging her gently
on. At an instant, when she was about to tack, having hardly head-way
sufficient to prevent missing stays, a sudden and violent puff, from a
gorge in the hills, struck the sail. Had it come at any other moment,
the catastrophe that followed could not have happened; but the boat
lying almost motionless, received all the force of the wind, and
instantly upset. Mr. Armstrong, unable to swim, and encumbered by his
clothes, sank, but was caught by the strong arm of Sill, and pulled
upon the keel. In a state of great discomfort, though of safety, there
both remained for some time, waiting for assistance. None arriving,
Sill, at last, became impatient, and as he was an excellent swimmer,
proposed to throw off the heavier part of his clothing, and swim to
land to hasten succor. As Mr. Armstrong made no objection, and the
danger appeared less than what was likely to proceed from a long
continuance on the boat, exposed in their wet clothes to the wind, the
shore being but a few rods distant, Sill, after divesting himself of a
part of his clothes, plunged into the water, and with vigorous strokes
swam towards the land. He had proceeded but a short way when, either
in consequence of becoming benumbed by the coldness of the water after
being chilled by exposure to the wind, or from being seized by cramp,
or from what other cause, the unfortunate man suddenly turning
his face towards Armstrong, and uttering a cry of alarm, sank and