ACROSS PACIFIC OCEAN AND BEHRING SEA 31 



been down upon the inhospitable coast, less than half a mile to 

 leeward. Thousands of birds were swarming around the pin- 

 nacles on shore, soaring high in the air and playing in the 

 violent eddies of wind which came rushing down the gullies of 

 the cliffs. At the foot of the cliffs the waves were dashing high 

 on the rocks. It was a fine run, but the strain was almost too 

 great. At 7.30 we cleared the cape by less than 300 yards from 

 the outlying rocks, could slacken a little on the close-hauled 

 sheets, and headed for Dutch Harbour. The night overtook 

 us, and we had to stay outside waiting for daylight. 



Friday, June 22, broke with thick and damp weather. We 

 bore off and headed for the harbour, carried along by a gentle 

 but fair breeze. After rounding the sandspit to the harbour, 

 the wind failed us entirely, and, knowing that the place had a 

 bad reputation for sudden and violent squalls, we proposed to 

 anchor in as shoal water as possible, so as to be ready to move 

 at any time. While drifting about with all sails on top, 

 sounding for an anchorage, a squall struck us, throwing the 

 ship over, and making her shoot through the water with a 

 sudden jump. At the same moment I shouted orders to run 

 down some of the sails, and Mr. Leffingwell, Dr. Howe, and 

 Mr. Ditlevsen took the sails aft while the crew went forward to 

 do the same. The next heave of the lead gave seven fathoms, 

 and I sung out to let go anchor and haul down headsails. Out 

 went the anchor with the chain clanging on the windlass until 

 it was brought up with a jerk. The halyards were loosened, 

 sails were flapping and making an infernal noise, the men were 

 running from halyards to downhaulers to get the sails in, and 

 the Duchess of Bedford was dancing on the water, tugging at the 

 anchor chain until it broke with a snap, and the ship, with the 

 headway it had, shot towards the shore. There stood the wreck 

 of an old steamer, and we were making right for it. I shouted 

 to the men to back up some of the headsails, and laid the helm 

 hard over. She swung, and I thought that the jibboom was 

 going, for it looked as if it must be caught in the standing iron 

 of the old hulk. But she swung clear of it, with only a few 

 inches between herself and the hulk, and kept on swinging 

 until a submerged piece of the wreck caught her keel, and the 

 Duchess of Bedford was again aground. We tried to haul her 

 off at once, but this time as well as before we had run aground 



