A GALE. 19 



have that cap. Give way, now, boys,&quot; so saying he clapped 

 it on the top of his old souwester, and as the frigate forged 

 ahead, the boat dropped astern, and was pulled back to the 

 Lucretia Ann. 



We have had only three days of any thing like bad weather, 

 and those we enjoyed, I think, quite as much as any. The 

 storm was preceded by some twenty-four hours of a clear, 

 fresh northwester, driving us along on our course with foaming, 

 sparkling, and most exhilarating speed. It gives a fine sensa 

 tion to be so borne along, like that of riding a great, power 

 ful, and spirited horse, or of dashing yourself through the 

 crashing surf, and in your own body breasting away the bil 

 lows as they sweep down upon you. Gradually it grew 

 more and more ahead, and blew harder and harder. When 

 we came on deck early in the morning, the horizon seemed 

 within a stone s throw, and there was a grand sight of dark- 

 marbled swelling waves, rushing on tumultuously, crowding 

 away and trampling under each other, as if panic-struck by 

 the grey, lowering, misty clouds that were sweeping down 

 with an appearance of intense mysterious purpose over them. 

 The expression was of vehement energy blindly directed. 

 The ship, lying-to under trifling storm-sail, seemed to have 

 composed herself for a trial, and, neither advancing nor shrink 

 ing back, rose and fell with more than habitual ease and dig 

 nity. Having been previously accustomed only to the 

 fidgety movements of a smaller class of vessels, I was greatly 

 surprised and impressed by her deliberate movements ; the 

 quietness and simplicity with which she answered the threats 

 of the turbulent elements. 



&quot; If only that northwester had continued&quot; every body is 

 saying &quot; we might have been in Liverpool by this.&quot; It s 

 not unfashionable yet at sea to talk about the weather. I am 



