100 EAST PRUSSIA TO THE GOLDEN GATE 



proportions and reflecting* its gloom upon the quiet At- 

 lantic, for the lustre of the heaven had vanished quite 

 a while before. Soon I noticed in the cloud a white-yel- 

 lowish spot, which grew likewise to uncomfortable dimen- 

 sions until it was over our heads. I watched the phenom- 

 enon breathlessly and, as I had often before heard of it 

 as indicating a windstorm, I notified the pilot, who had 

 just come out of his cabin. He gave a quick glance at the 

 cloud, and then came the command to fasten the jib, 

 wedge and topsails and so on. No sooner were the prep- 

 arations completed than it grew quite dark, a few heavy 

 raindrops commenced to fall, whilst everything was still 

 as death. I nervously awaited the things to come. Soon 

 I heard a peculiar roar in the air and our ship was 

 shortly after tossed over on one side with, such terrific 

 force of the gale that those who had not taken the precau- 

 tion of steadying themselves in some manner would surely 

 have fallen to the floor. The sails commenced to fill and 

 the Victoria gained slowly but surely, cutting a mighty 

 wave in two with its broad bow, thereby pushing 

 aside the unruly waters. Then came the flight! 

 What speed! We went along like lightning, but in the 

 meantime there was a rush for shelter, as the rain came 

 down in such torrents that it resembled the outpouring of 

 one ocean into another. All this lasted about half an 

 hour, after which rain and wind slowly subsided, and we 

 fell as soundly asleep as if we had been ashore. 



From the following day until Wednesday, the 16th, 

 there was complete calm. How all this affects the mind 

 can only be appreciated by one who has lived through 

 similar experiences. We were sailing at this time be- 

 tween the tenth and eleventh degree of Northern latitude. 



The intense heat of the sun burns one's brain, the per- 

 spiration opens all pores and, notwithstanding the great 

 exhaustion, one can hardly find a moment's sleep on ac- 

 count of the depressing heat. In addition to that, we 

 had to endure a burning thirst, which our daily allowance 

 of a pint of stale, warrn water was unable to quench. A 

 good rain fortunately changed the atmosphere and we 



