FAVORABLE CHANGE OF WIND. 401 



gaged paid but little attention to the compass : intui- 

 tively easing the helm when the vessel pitched from 

 the surging of the waves so as to endanger the spars, 

 and occasionally when warned by the flapping of the 

 sails raising the wheel to keep her off from the wind 

 a trifle ; until at length an unusually heavy sea, 

 breaking over the ship and drenching the decks, 

 awoke me from my reverie. 



Day had now began to dawn, and casually I 

 glanced at the compass. Could I be assured that 

 the direction in which the magnetic needle pointed 

 was correct, or was it a mere phantasy of my over- 

 wrought brain ! I rubbed my eyes, and looked 

 again. Could it be possible, or was I in a lethargy, 

 deceiving myself into a belief in the reality of a 

 wished-for fact ! I shook myself, and stamped my 

 feet, now grown cold from inaction. Satisfied at 

 length that I was in the perfect possession of all 

 my faculties, I ventured to glance again at the 

 needle, and then I received the fullest evidence that 

 I was not deceived. I called the second mate to me. 

 He at first could scarce credit it — but, there it was ! 

 The wind had hauled two points, and now was west- 

 north-west, and we had a prospect of delivery from 

 all our somber soliloquies. Hurrah! The captain 

 was now called (he having gone below for sleep — 

 the two preceding nights he had been upon deck 

 until utterly worn out). He came up skeptical, but 

 w^as soon a convert. "We cannot show much sail," 

 said he, " but we will venture a little more. Shake 

 a reef out of each topsail. Loose the foresail." (I 

 had now been relieved from the wheel.) Still she 

 did not go fast enough. "Loosen the jib and 

 84* 2a 



