CHAP. VI.] SHIP SINKING. 439 



bulkheads, which actually raised the officers' 

 bed-places, the rickety twisting occasioned by 

 the fore and aft motion, and the prolonged dull 

 roll to windward, to say nothing of the cascade- 

 like rushing of the water within, — all theseVere 

 certain indications of a consummation which no 

 exertions of ours would probably be sufficiently 

 long to defer. Whilst thus seriously anxious, 

 I was acquainted, shortly after midnight, by 

 Lieutenant Smyth, that the crew were no longer 

 equal to the task of keeping the leaks under, 

 and that, consequently, we were sinking. Such, 

 indeed, was for the moment the fact ; but the 

 fine fellows, though dreadfully exhausted, again 

 rallied, and cheered and aided by the officers, 

 worked with renewed vigour, until once more 

 they accomplished, and thenceforth maintained 

 their object. 



Up to this moment I had intended to proceed 

 to Stromness, but it now became absolutely 

 necessary to make for the nearest land, and as 

 Lough Swilly, on the Irish coast, offered the 

 easiest access, that harbour was at once selected. 

 However, on putting the ship before the gale, 

 she was so difficult to steer as to compel us to 

 take in all the sail off the main-mast, and to de- 

 pend on a treble-reefed fore-top-sail, fore-sail, &c. : 

 even then she was so wild as to be scarcely ma- 

 nageable. The crew were now so harassed with 



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