318 WHALING AND JFIoHING. 



the heavens, leaving scarcely a spot of the bltti 

 sky perceptible. 



At half past two the royals and top- gallant 

 studdingsails were taken in. Shortly thereafter, 

 a heavy white cloud appeared above the horizon. 

 As it developed itself, a small black spot appeared 

 in its center. This would not have been noticed 

 by an inattentive observer. Yet this contained 

 the squall. As the cloud approached, the black 

 diffused itself over the white. 



" Stand by your top-gallant halyards," said the 

 skipper. 



Now a few drops of mixed hail and rain the 

 advance guards of the squall fall upon deck. 

 And now the wind changes about two points 

 that is, to due South-east. 



" Keep her off before it," says the captain. 



The sails flutter a little; and then, with a 

 heavy shower of hail, the ice-cold gust strikes us, 

 One strong sweep of the wind, which lasts not i 

 minute in all, and all is over. The hail turns to 

 rain. This ceases. The sun shines out brightly. 

 The clouds disappear. The wind comes back to 

 South-south-east. The sky resumes its clear blue; 

 and the air is again balmy as before. 



The blast was as though some huge giant hart 

 blown a breath against us. One almost deafening 

 roar, and all was past. It was a singular phe 

 nomenon. 



We arrived at Port Louis in eighteen days from 

 Algoa Bay. Going on shore, I took possession 



