The storm continued for many days. Sometimeswe sailed on a short distance，but often the windbeat us back. On the ninth day we were north -west of So otland. We were not far from the land.
The coast was wild and there were rocks everywhere. It was a dangerous position.
The officers held a discussion，and the shipturned south to sail with the wind. Next day the seawas calmer，but a thick wet white fog hid everythingfrom sight .
Night came，and I was serving the meal to thecaptain and Mr Riach. Suddenly the brig structsomething with a loud crash，and we heard voicescrying out.
“We ’ve s truck a rock！”cried Mr Riach.
“No，s ir ，”Hoseason replied，“we ’ve run into aboa t. ”
He was right. We had hit a small boat in the
風暴持續了好多天。有時我們也能向前航行一段距離，但是大風常常迫使我們後退。第九天時，我們位於蘇格蘭西北方向離陸地不遠的洋麵上。海岩上荒無人煙，怪石嶙峋。這是一個危險的地段。
船長和大副、二副商量了一下，決定調轉航向，順風朝南而行。第二天，風浪減小了一點，可是，海上升起潮濕的白色濃霧，我們什麼也看不見。
天黑了。我正伺候船長和裏亞契先生吃晚飯時，突然一聲巨響，船跟什麼東西撞上了。接著，我們聽見了喊叫聲。
裏亞契先生大聲說：“咱們觸礁啦！”
“不，先生，咱們是撞上了一條小船。”霍西森回答說。
他說對了，我們在迷霧中撞上
fog. It had broken in two pieces and gove down. Allthe men on it lost their lives，except one. This manwas sitting at some distance from the others. Whenthe accident happened，the blow threw him into theair. The man was wearing a long overcoat，but hejumped into the sea.
了一隻小船。小船被撞成兩段，沉入海底。小船上的人隻有一個還活著，其餘的都淹死了。這位幸存者當時沒有與其他人坐在一起。兩條船相撞時，他被拋到半空。他穿著一件長大衣，但還是跳進海裏。
At the front of the brig there was a spar whichheld the sails. The man caught hold of the spar andsaved his life. It showed he was quick and strongand lucky. Yet when the captain brought him intothe round - house，he was quite calm.
His body was small and neat，and he movedquickly. His face was honest，his eyes were verylight and wild. He took off his overcoat and laid twofine pistols on the table. Their handles were of silver.