The Wreck of the “Macquarie”

           STILLthiswearisomevoyagedraggedon.Onthe2dofFebruary,sixdaysfromstarting,theMacquariehadnotyetmadeaneareracquaintancewiththeshoresofAuckland.Thewindwasfair,nevertheless,andblewsteadilyfromthesouthwest;butthecurrentswereagainsttheship’scourse,andshescarcelymadeanyway.Theheavy,lumpyseastrainedhercordage,hertimberscreaked,andshelaboredpainfullyinthetroughofthesea.Herstandingriggingwassooutoforderthatitallowedplaytothemasts,whichwereviolentlyshakenateveryrollofthesea.

           Fortunately,WillHalleywasnotamaninahurry,anddidnotuseapressofcanvas,orhismastswouldinevitablyhavecomedown.JohnManglesthereforehopedthatthewretchedhullwouldreachportwithoutaccident;butitgrievedhimthathiscompanionsshouldhavetosuffersomuchdiscomfortfromthedefectivearrangementsofthebrig.

           ButneitherLadyHelenanorMaryGrantutteredawordofcomplaint,thoughthecontinuousrainobligedthemtostaybelow,wherethewantofairandtheviolenceofthemotionwerepainfullyfelt.Theyoftenbravedtheweather,andwentonthepooptilldrivendownagainbytheforceofasuddensquall.Thentheyreturnedtothenarrowspace,fitterforstowingcargothanaccommodatingpassengers,especiallyladies.

           Theirfriendsdidtheirbesttoamusethem.Paganeltriedtobeguilethetimewithhisstories,butitwasahopelesscase.Theirmindsweresodistractedatthischangeofrouteastobequiteunhinged.