DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11789#0030
20
FRENCH BRIG IN DISTRESS.
the wind directly ahead, without any respite or re-
mission. The captain, who was one of the five,
said that if they had only sailed at the uniform
rate of one mile an hour, they would before that
time have been at their homes in Marseilles.
Several of their crew had been and some were
still sick. They were out of water, and had for
twelve days been, reduced to a very short allowance
of bread. I shall never forget the haggard and
distressed appearance of the poor fellows as they
stood before me. They had not yet seen the land,
and the captain seemed greatly delighted when the
dim outline of Cape Spartel was pointed out to him
from the bow of our vessel. Fortunately, we had
it in our power to furnish them with everything
they desired. It was astonishing to note the
change which this occurrence produced in the tem-
per of us all. It was not that it merely served to
diversify the course of a dull and weary day. By
a comparison with sufferings so much greater, it
made us feel that our petty trials were unworthy
of a moment's regard. At the Same time, it afforded
that satisfaction, or rather enjoyment, which the
consciousness of having relieved those in real dis-
tress, always confers. A few hours after the cap-
tain of the French brig had returned with the
FRENCH BRIG IN DISTRESS.
the wind directly ahead, without any respite or re-
mission. The captain, who was one of the five,
said that if they had only sailed at the uniform
rate of one mile an hour, they would before that
time have been at their homes in Marseilles.
Several of their crew had been and some were
still sick. They were out of water, and had for
twelve days been, reduced to a very short allowance
of bread. I shall never forget the haggard and
distressed appearance of the poor fellows as they
stood before me. They had not yet seen the land,
and the captain seemed greatly delighted when the
dim outline of Cape Spartel was pointed out to him
from the bow of our vessel. Fortunately, we had
it in our power to furnish them with everything
they desired. It was astonishing to note the
change which this occurrence produced in the tem-
per of us all. It was not that it merely served to
diversify the course of a dull and weary day. By
a comparison with sufferings so much greater, it
made us feel that our petty trials were unworthy
of a moment's regard. At the Same time, it afforded
that satisfaction, or rather enjoyment, which the
consciousness of having relieved those in real dis-
tress, always confers. A few hours after the cap-
tain of the French brig had returned with the