The day passed gloomily. They regarded every cloud that rose upon the horizon as the forerunner of a breeze, which we above all things feared to encounter. Much of our time was employed in preparing for the painful but necessary duty of interring the dead. The carpenter soon got ready a sufficient number of boards; to each of which we bound one of the corpses, and also weights enough to make it sink to the bottom.
About ten at night, we began to commit the bodies to the deep. A dead calm had prevailed the whole day, and not a cloud obscured the sky. The sea reflected the stars so distinctly, that it seemed as if we were consigning our departed companions to a heaven as resplendent as that above us. There was an awful solemnity, alike in the scene and in our situation. I read the funeral service, and then we dropped the corpses overboard, one after another. The sea sparkled around each, as its sullen plunge announced that the waters were closing over it, and they all slowly and successively descended to the bottom, enveloped in a ghastly glimmering brightness, which enabled us to trace their progress though the motionless deep. When these last offices of respect were performed, we retired in silence to different parts of the ship.
About midnight, the mate ordered the men to cast anchor, which, till then, they had not been able to accomplish. They likewise managed to furl most of the sails, and we went to bed, under the consoling idea, that though a breeze did spring up, our moorings would enable us to weather it without any risk. I was roused early next morning by a confused noise upon deck. When I got there, I found the men gazing intently over the side of the ship, and I inquired if our anchor held fast. — "Ay, ay," returned one of them, "rather faster than we want it." On approaching the bulwarks, and looking down, I perceived, to my horror and astonishment, all the corpses lying at the bottom of the sea, as if they had just been dropped into it.
We were now exempted from the ravages and actual presence of death, but his form haunted us without intermission. We hardly dared to look over the ship's side, lest our eyes should encounter the ghastly features of some one who had formerly been a companion, and at whose funeral rites we had recently assisted. The seamen began to murmur among themselves, saying that we would never be able to leave the spot where we then were, and that our vessel would remain there and rot.
In the evening a strong breeze sprung up, and filled us with hopes that some vessel would soon come in sight, and afford us relief. At sunset, when the mate was giving directions about the watch, one of the seamen cried out, "Thank Heaven, there they are." And the other ran up to him saying, "Where, where?" He pointed to a flock of Mother Carey's chickens that had just appeared astern, and began to count how many there were of them. I inquired what was the matter, and the mate replied, "Why, only that we've seen the worst, that's all, master. I've a notion we'll fall in with a sail before twenty hours are past." — "Have you any particular reason for thinking so?" said I. "To be sure I have," returned he, "Aren't them there birds an omen of returning good fortune?" — "I have always understood," said I, "that these birds indicate bad weather, or some unfortunate event, and this appears to me to be true." — "Ay, ay," replied he, "they say experience teaches fools, and I have found it so; there was a time when I did not believe that these creatures were any thing but common birds, but I know another story — Oh I've witnessed such strange things!"
Next morning I was awakened by the joyful intelligence that a schooner was in sight, and that she had hoisted her flag in answer to our signals. She bore down upon us with a good wind, and in about an hour hove to, and spoke us. When we had informed them of our unhappy situation, the captain ordered the boat to be lowered, and came on board of our vessel, with three of his crew. He was a thick, short, dark-complexioned man, and his language and accent discovered him to be a native of the southern states of America. The mate immediately proceeded to detail minutely all that happened to us, but he soon interrupted it, by asking of what our cargo consisted. Having been satisfied on this point, he said "Seeing as how things stand, I conclude you'll be keen for getting into port." — "Yes, that of course is our earnest wish," replied the mate, "and we hope to be able by your assistance to accomplish it." — "Ay, we must all assist one another," returned the captain — "Well, I was just calculating, that your plan would be to run into New Providence — I'm bound for St. Thomas's and you can't expect that I should turn about, and go right back with you — neither that I should let you have any of my seamen, for I'll not be able to make a good trade unless I get slick into port. Now I have three nigger slaves on board of me, — curse them, they don't know much about sea-matters, and are as lazy as h—l, but keep flogging them Mister, — keep flogging them I say, — by which means, you will make them serve your ends. Well, as I was saying, I will let you have them blacks to help you, if you'll buy them of me at a fair price, and pay it down in hard cash." — "This proposal," said the mate, "sounds strange enough to a British seaman; and how much do you ask for your slaves?" — "I can't let them go under three hundred dollars each," replied the captain, "I guess they would fetch more in St. Thomas's, for they're prime, blow me." — "Why, there isn't that sum of money in this vessel, that I know of," answered the mate; "and though I could pay it myself, I'm sure the owners never would agree to indemnify me. I thought you would have aff'orded us every assistance without asking any thing in return, — a true sailor would have done so at least." — "Well, I vow you are a strange man," said the captain. "Is'nt it fair that I should get something for my niggers, and for the chance I'll run of spoiling my trade at St. Thomas's, by making myself short of men? But we shan't split about a small matter, and I'll lessen the price by twenty a head." — "It is out of the question, sir," cried the mate, "I have no money." — "Oh there's no harm done," returned the captain, "we can't trade, that's all. Get ready the boat, boys — I guess your men will soon get smart again, and then, if the weather holds moderate, you'll reach port with the greatest ease." — "You surely do not mean to leave us this barbarous way?" cried I; "the owners of this vessel would, I am confident, pay any sum rather than that we should perish through your inhumanity." — "Well, mister, I've got owners too," replied he, and my business is to make a good voyage for them. Markets are pretty changeable just now, and it won't do to spend time talking about humanity — money's the word with me."
Having said this, he leaped into the boat, and ordered his men to row towards his own vessel. As soon as they got on board, they squared topsail, and bore away, and were soon out of the reach of our voices. We looked at one another for a little time with an expression of quiet despair, and then the seamen began to pour forth a torrent of invectives, and abuse, against the heartless and avaricious shipmaster who had inhumanly deserted us. Major L. and his wife, being in the cabin below, heard all that passed. When the captain first came on board, they were filled with rapture, thinking that we would certainly be delivered from the perils and difficulties that environed us; but as the conversation proceeded, their hopes gradually diminished, and the conclusion of it made Mrs. L. give way to a flood of tears, in which I found her indulging when I went below.
The mate now endeavored to encourage the seamen to exertion. They cleared away the wreck of the fore-top-mast which had hitherto encumbered the deck, and hoisted a sort of jury-mast in its stead, on which they rigged two sails.
When these things were accomplished, we weighed anchor, and laid our course for New Providence. The mate had fortunately been upon the Bahama seas before, and was aware of the difficulties he would have to encounter in navigating them. The weather continued moderate, and after two days of agitating suspense, we made Exuma Island, and cast anchor near its shore.