CHAP. VI.] PERILOUS EMERGENCY. 401 



vessel did not recover her equilibrium, but were 

 now startled by the conviction that she was 

 gradually going over ; and the great inclination 

 rendering it impossible to stand on deck, every 

 one clung on to windward as he best could. Then 

 it was we beheld the strange and appalling spec- 

 tacle of what may be fitly termed a submerged 

 berg, fixed low down with one end to the ship's 

 side, while the other, with the purchase of along 

 lever, advantageously placed at a right angle 

 with the keel, was slowly rising towards the 

 surface. Meanwhile, those who happened to be 

 below, finding every thing falling, rushed or 

 clambered on deck, where they saw the ship on 

 her beam-ends, with the lee boats touching the 

 water, and felt that a few moments only trem- 

 bled between them and eternity. Yet in that 

 awful crisis there was no confusion ; the sails 

 were clewed up and lowered ; fresh men from 

 former crews were stationed in the boats, which 

 again were rather unhooked than lowered ; the 

 barge was hoisted out ; and with a promptitude 

 and presence of mind which I shall ever remem- 

 ber with admiration, the whole five were pro- 

 visioned and filled with arms, ammunition, and 

 clothing, and veered astern clear of danger. The 

 pumps were never quitted, and though ex- 

 pecting that the ship might capsize, yet the 

 question of " Does the leak gain on us ?" was 



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