OF THE GRIPER. 79 



shallow, these might almost be called breakers 18^. 

 rather than waves, for each m passing, burst Sept. 

 with great force over our gangways, and as 

 every sea ^^ topped," our decks were continu- 

 ally, and frequently deeply, flooded. All 

 hands took a little refreshment, for some had 

 scarcely been below for twenty-four hours, and 

 I had not been in bed for three nights. Al- 

 though few or none of us had any idea that 

 we should survive the gale, we did not think 

 that our comforts should be entirely neglected, 

 and an order was therefore given to the men 

 to put on their best and warmest clothing, to 

 enable them to support life as long as possible. 

 Every man, therefore, brought his bag on deck 

 and dressed himself, and in the fine athletic 

 forms which stood exposed before me, I did 

 not see one muscle quiver, nor the slightest 

 sign of alarm. The officers each secured some 

 useful instrument about them for the puiposes 

 of observation, although it was acknowledged 

 by all that not the slightest hope remained. 

 And now that every thing in our power had 

 been done, I called all hands aft, and to a mer- 

 ciful God offered prayers for our preservation. 

 I thanked every one for their excellent con- 

 duct, and cautioned them, as Ave should, in 

 all probability, soon appear before our Maker, 



