194
Loss of the Ship Kite.
APRIL,
morning gown, no bonnet, no shawl, and no shoes, the latter having been washed off: no food, no water, no sail, only two oars and near an enemy's country. On this day, we went on board a fishing boat; the men were kind to us and gave us a little dry rice, some water, and an old mat to try to make a sail of. Soon after, we thought we saw a small English sail; never shall I forget the excitement we felt; but after a long time, we found we were mistaken. Towards even- ing we picked up a small pumpkin, of which I took a little,—the first food I had taken since the wreck. Whilst we were thus driven about from place to place, again we thought we saw a steamer, and we did all in our power to make them observe us, raising a signal of distress on one of our oars, and once more we were disappointed. On Wednesday night the breakers came over our little boat with such violence, that we thought she would have sunk; it washed away one of our oars, and we were all wet through; but still the Almighty preserved us. Thursday the 17th, we boarded another boat and asked them to take us to Chusan, which they promised to do, but to this the master of the party would not accede. However, they took us up a canal, and told us that was the way. It now began to rain a little, and at night we found ourselves in a small creek, with numbers of Chinamen round us. They appeared kind and brought us a little boiled rice. Wonderful to say, although we had been so long with- out food, not one in the boat complained of hunger, and of the rice now brought very little was eaten; the rain now fell fast, and we all lay down in the bottom of the boat, laying the old mat over the top. About 12 o'clock, I thought I heard footsteps, and on looking up. saw about twenty Chinese around our boat, carrying gay lanterns. awoke lieut. Douglas in alarm; however, they still appeared kind and gave us more food. In the morning, it being very wet, we went barefooted to a Chinese house. After sitting a short time, they told us, that they would get us something to eat, and then take us to Chu- We followed; they took us to a temple for shelter from the rain. One of the party now left us, and we began to suspect that all was not right, and set off to regain our boat. But it was too late. We had scarcely ascended the bank, when, on looking behind, we saw a large party of soldiers, an officer, and numbers of Chinese, pur- suing us. We saw at once we were betrayed; flight was impossible, resistance as vain. I was leaning on lieut. Douglas' arm; he stood boldly in my defense, but it was of no use, for they struck me several times. They then put chains around our necks, hurrying us along a path not half a yard in breadth, to a large city, through every street
san.
I