DECEMBER 6 continued.—The Chancellor¹ no longer maintained her equilibrium²; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull³ was probably breaking up. The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely⁴ from the waves, was entirely⁵ covered.
 
The Chancellor's last day, we felt, had come.
 
Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark⁶ in the evening.
 
The raft is a very solid structure. The spars that form the framework are crossed one above another and lashed⁷ together with stout⁸ ropes, so that the whole pile rises a couple of feet above the water. The upper platform is constructed from the planks⁹ that were broken from the ship's sides by the violence of the waves, and which had not drifted away. The afternoon has been employed in charging the raft with such provisions, sails, tools, and instruments as we have been able to save.
 
And how can I attempt to give any idea of the feelings with which, one and all, we now contemplated¹⁰ the fate before us? For my own part, I was possessed¹¹ rather by a benumbed indifference¹² than by any sense of genuine resignation. M. Letourneur was entirely absorbed in his son, who, in his turn, thought only of his father, at the same time exhibiting a Christian¹³ fortitude¹⁴, which was shown by no one else of the party except Miss Herbey, who faced her danger with the same brave composure. Incredible as it may seem, Falsten remained the same as ever, occupying himself with writing down figures and memoranda¹⁵ in his pocketbook. Mrs. Kear, in spite of all that Miss Herbey could do for her, wa............