. What the shore was, whether rock or sand, whether steep gove us the least shadow of expectation was, if we might happen into some bay or gulf, or the mouth of some river, where by great chance we might have run our boat in, or got under the lee of the land, and perhaps made smooth water. But there was nothing of this appeared; but as we made nearer and nearer the shore, the land looked more feightful than the sea.
After we had rowed, or rather driven, about a league and a half, as we reckoned it, a raging wave, mountain-like, came rolling astern of us, and plainly bade us expect the -coup de grace-. In a word, it took us with such a fury that it OKverset the boat at onece; and separating us, as well from the boat as from one another, gave us not time hardly to say O God! for we were all swallowed up in a moment.
Nothing can describe the confusion of thought which I felt when I sunk into water; for though I swam very well, yet I could not deliver myself from the waves so as to draw breath, till that wave having me, or rather carried me, a vast way on towards the shore, and having spent itself, went back, and left me upon the almost dry, but half dead with the water I took in. I had so much persence of mind, as well as breath left, that seeing myself nearer the mainland than I expected, I got upon my feet, and endeavored to make on towards the land as fast as I could, befor another wave should return and take me up again. But I soon found it was impossible to avoid it; for I saw the sea come after me as high as a great hill, and as furious as an enemy which I had