THESEA'SWAY 31 



slide, dousing the cabin with water. For an awful minute all 

 was dark and then with a sickening lurch he had been thrown 

 out of his bunk. He came on deck fully expecting to find me 

 washed away. 



Three similar waves boarded us that night, straining the 

 woodwork and opening many of the deck seams. Then it was 

 that we saw the picture of the "Gulf Stream" run water. Gulf 

 Stream water too, the sea's turn to laugh! 



And though we did not think we would last through the 

 night, we somehow plunged on, heading ever further into the 

 ocean. In all these hours we had taken no sights, had no idea of 

 our whereabouts other than by dead reckoning. We felt by 

 this time, however, that we could afford to turn tail to the 

 storm and run before it. As Coleman put it— "If we are going 

 to hell, we might as well go flying." Running before the wind 

 eased the strain somewhat, but was risky business. Added to 

 the danger of jibing was the hazard of being pooped by a 

 following wave. But by this time we did not particularly care. 

 Anything seemed better than hammering into the gale,— hour 

 after hour of terrific punishment and not getting anywhere 

 was wearing on our nerves. Due south we headed the Basilisk 

 and there began one of the most thrilling portions of the entire 

 voyage. 



With the speed of an express train we tore down the massive 

 watery hillsides, tore on and into the south. Hour after hour 

 the miles reeled behind us and were lost in the foam. While 

 tearing thus before the wind we witnessed one of the most 

 magnificent sights that the sea has to offer. We had just 

 mounted the crest of an exceptionally large roller when from 

 under our bows burst a great porpoise. Another came and an- 

 other until the water fairly seethed with them. And at the same 

 moment, from out of the ocean, from the depths that just be- 

 fore had been lifeless, from as far as we could see on the crest 



