254 'The French in Prince Edward Island 
     
    
   
   
    
     which they also agreed to. As the sea was too high to 
     
     lower the boats into the water with the runners and 
     
     tackles, the captain told them his people should get 
     
     the cutter over the side, and have a proper painter 
     
     made fast to her before she dropped into the water; 
     
     and that they should have two axes to cut the runners 
     
     and tackles when they should think the most convenient 
     
     time. They accordingly got the cutter over the sides; 
     
     and the ship lying pretty quiet, they cut the tackles, 
     
     and she dropped into the water very well and the 
     
     painter brought her up. They went then to work with 
     
     the long-boat. Daylight now raised their spirits, and 
     
     the weather was tolerably moderate. The mate and car- 
     
     penter cut the runners and the long-boat fell into the 
     
     water as well as the cutter had done; and having a 
     
     proper painter made fast, she brought up extremely 
     
     well. 
     
    

    
     There were people at the fore and main-top-mast 
     
     heads to look out for a sail, when to their unspeakable 
     
     joy, the man at the main-top-mast head cried out that 
     
     he saw two ships, right astern, making after them. 
     
     Captain Nicholls went and acquainted the priest and 
     
     old prisoner with the good news. The latter took him 
     
     in his aged arms and cried for joy. The captain then 
     
     ordered the ensign to be hoisted to the main-top-mast 
     
     shrouds, and to get the guns all clear to fire. It was 
     
     very hazy, and the ships were not far from them when 
     
     they discovered them first. 
     
    

    
     As soon as they hoisted their signal of distress, they 
     
     hoisted English colours, and seemed to be West India- 
     
     men, of about three or four hundred tons. They kept 
     
     loading and firing as fast as possible, when they per- 
     
     ceived that they spoke each other; and setting their