256 ‘The French in Prince Edward Island 
     
    
   
   
    
     desperate, but so was their condition, and that they 
     
     were ready to do whatever he thought best. Captain 
     
     Moore disapproved of the measure. Captain Nicholls 
     
     then acquainted the priest, the old gentlemen, and the 
     
     rest of the people, with his intentions, and the motives 
     
     for them. They were all pleased to say, let the conse- 
     
     quence be what it would, they should be satisfied that he 
     
     had acted for the best, they were therefore resigned to 
     
     what might happen. This was a dreadful crisis; and 
     
     great were Captain Nicholl’s feelings when about doing 
     
     that which though in his own judgment was right, might 
     
     be the means of sending four hundred persons to eter- 
     
     nity. His resolution, however, did not forsake him. 
     
    

    
     He persevered, and gave orders to bring the ship to. 
     
     In hauling out the mizen, which had been greatly 
     
     chafed, it spilt. They then got a new stay-sail, and bent 
     
     it to bring her to, which had the desired effect, though 
     
     it was a long time before this was accomplished, and 
     
     they were once afraid that they should be obliged to 
     
     cut away the fore-mast, by a large sea striking on her 
     
     starboard quarter. The next sea hove her to, and she 
     
     stayed very well. When they saw, from the yawl, that 
     
     she was lying to for them, they slipped their fore-mast, 
     
     and ran them on board. As there was too much wind 
     
     and a large sea, to sprit the sail, they came on board, 
     
     holding their sheets in their hands. As soon as she came, 
     
     Captain Nicholls sent some men into her to row and 
     
     fetch the long-boat. They soon joined her, got her fore- 
     
     mast up, and set sail, as did the cutter; and to their 
     
     great joy, came safe to them. 
     
    

    
     Just as they had joined them, the people from the 
     
     fore-top-mast cried out, “A sail! A sail!” The captain 
     
     thought it better to let the ship lie to, as, by seeing the 
     
    
   
   
    
     ee