58 THE WHALEMAN ; OR, 



slender reeds when shaken by the wind. This 

 was in effect the finishing blow ; and what was 

 to be done towards rescuing any thing below deck 

 must be done soon or never. 



The captain, at this critical juncture, went 

 into the cabin to secure what articles he could? 

 such as clothes, nautical instruments, money, &c. 

 While there, the stern burst in, and the water 

 came in between the opening timbers in such 

 torrents as to send him backward and headlong 

 with the few articles he had hastily gathered, and 

 scattered them in every direction. The floor of 

 the cabin opened beneath his feet. There was 

 no time for delay. His life was in imminent 

 peril. He at once started for the deck, but was 

 unable to reach it on account of the house hav- 

 ing been thrown down upon the gangway, and 

 the mizzenmast having gone by the board, one 

 part of which rested upon the rail. All access to 

 the deck by the cabin doors was thus cut off. 



Mr. Fisher became aware of the condition of 

 the captain in the cabin, and called to him to 

 come to the skylight; and as he jumped, he was 

 caught by his arms, and drawn up by several 

 who had come to his rescue. On reaching the 

 deck, the captain saw at once the sad condition 

 of his men. The sea was making a clear breach 

 over the vessel, and they were huddled together 



