This chapter presents the authors a perfect excuse for elongation and emotionalism but they did not. The events happen quickly and in short order Tere is adrift on an all to fragile float at first to fear that Harvey will try to find and kill her in the dark and later to cope with the realization that she maybe the only member of her family still alive.

As the Bluebelle was sinking Tere waded through oily bilge water before floating away from the wreck. Now she is alone in the Atlantic, on a small float. There is nothing for shade, not even a hat, and no food, no water. A day passes, then another day, and another. Each day the heat takes its toll dehydrating her, pesky parrot fish bite her, and the float becomes less and less sturdy. By the fourth day, Tere is near death. The lack of water is causing her organs to fail and she is hallucinating.

Her tiny white float looks like just another white-cap to the ships passing in the distance. Only providene would account for her being spotted unless a ship happened to pass close to her. But providence was with her. On watch on the Capt. Theo a white-cap which persisted attracted the curiousity of one of the crew. He watched in the binoculars but saw no human figure. Still, it was odd enough to call to the Captain's attention, and the captain ordered a change in course to investigate.

As Tere slipped in and out of consciousness, neart death, a monstrous figure approached and towered over her. It was the Capt. Theo with the crew dumbfounded by what they saw. One crewman snapped a picture of Tere on her float as the rest of the crew initiated her rescue.

She was finally out of the sea, but not out of danger. She had suffered so much exposure; she was severely sunburned, suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration. She was dying.

Nice summary, Stahrwe!

I'm glad the crewman had the idea of snapping a photo. Just that one image of Tere floating on the cork raft makes this story more tangible. How many horrific events have unfolded throughout history and we have no evidence remaining.

If I had been on the raft I would have died. Plain and simply I would have died. My skin is very light and I burn very easily. Tere was probably pretty tanned as she was used to being on boats. I can't even go to the beach here in Florida for more than 45 minutes at a time without burning. And the Bluebelle was down in the Caribbean, not too far from here. The sun must have been unbearable.

I agree that it is great that someone took a picture of Tere as she was being rescued.

The crew reported that they had to be careful how they rescued her because they feared that she would grab for them and fall into the water. Given her obvious condition they felt that would be fatal to her. Also, the webbing on the float was in tatters and sharks were circling. The author suspects that the oil soaked clothing Tere was wearing was acting as a repellent to the sharks but she was also being constantly bitten by parrot fish so there was also blood in the water.

I will leave how they rescued her to be discovered by reading the book.

The book says that several of the Greek sailors were crying as they rescued her. I have to confess a few tears just reading the account. What emotion is that? Joy? I have cried for joy before and that is not it. Sadness? No, it was a happy occasion. Relief? Possibly, but I knew before reading the book that Tere was rescued and lived. So what emotion was I experiencing? Doctor....

I read the book in one day. This chapter was just heart wrenching. to think of all the horrible suffering, I don't know if I could have survived out there for that long. I don't think there are any words adequate to describe her surviving the situation. all words just fall short.

As Richard Logan described in the book Tere survived an entire series of potential deaths. Amazing.