Page:The Captivity of Hans Stade of Hesse.pdf/148

several barrels together, put powder therein, stopped up the bung holes, tied our weapons upon them, so that if we suffered shipwreck, and any of ours escaped therefrom they might find their weapons on land, as the waves would throw the barrels on shore. We then tacked with the intention of sailing away from the land again, but it availed us not, the wind drove us upon the rocks which lay hidden in the water at a depth of about four fathoms, and we were obliged on account of the great waves to sail right on to the shore, thinking that nothing could save all from perishing together.

But God ordained that, as we came close upon the rocks, one of our companions saw a haven into which we sailed.

There we saw a small ship which had escaped before us, and had sailed behind an island, so that we could not see it, and could not know what ship it was. We did not follow it further, but we lowered our anchor, and praised God that he had helped us out of our peril, rested and dried our clothes.

It was about two o'clock in the afternoon, when we anchored: and towards evening there arrived a large boat full of savages alongside of our ship, and desired to speak with us. But none of ours could well understand the language; we gave them some knives and fishhooks after which they again sailed away. The same night another boatful came, and among them were two Portuguese who asked us whence we came. We then told them that we were from Spain, they said that we must have a skilful pilot to have so entered the harbour, for they knew the harbour well, but that with such a storm as that with which we had entered, they knew not how to make it. Then we told them all the circumstances, how the wind and waves would have brought us to a shipwreck. How whilst we were expecting nothing else, than that we should perish, we had suddenly sighted the harbour, and that