As soon as I was strong enough, I went over the ship, or what was left
of her. It was a marvel that she had floated for so long, since her hull
was shattered. Indeed, I do not think she could have done so, save for
the fine wool that was packed into the lower part of her, which wool
seemed to have swollen when it grew wet and to have kept the water out.
For the rest she was but a hulk, since both her masts were gone, and
much of the deck with them. Still she had kept afloat and driving into
this creek, had beached herself upon the mud as though it were the
harbour that she sought.
How had we lived through such a journey? The answer seemed to be, after
we were too weak to find or take food, by means of the drug that Kari
cherished in his skin bag, and water of which there was plenty left at
hand in barrels, since the _Blanche_ had been provisioned for a long
voyage to Italy and farther. At least we had lived for weeks, and weeks,
being still young and very strong, and not having been called upon
to suffer great cold, since it would appear that although the gale
continued after the first few days of our flight before it, the weather
had turned warm.
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