Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.
OJBAnd fearing lest somehow against the rough places we might run aground, they threw four anchors off the stern, and they were praying for the dawn to break.
TCENTFearing that we might run aground on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak to come.
T4TThey were afraid that the ship might go onto some rocks, so they threw out four anchors from the ship’s stern/back and continued to wish/pray that it would soon be dawn so that they could see where the ship was going.