54 PHILOSOPHY OF STORMS. 



"After the lapse of two or three minutes, the cone in- 

 stantaneously extended itself to about twice its first length, 

 and the water was thrown up higher. This continued a 

 few minutes : then the apex of the cone suddenly leaving 

 the truncated end jagged, from which little cirri were 

 continually darting and disappearing, the water continuing 

 as before. This appearance lasted two or three minutes, 

 after which the cone gradually elongated itself, assumed 

 the cylindrical shape, except near its junction with the rest 

 of the cloud, and descended almost to the surface of the 

 water. The time occupied by the descent was about two 

 seconds. All these changes were instantaneous, except the 

 descent, which was gradual. As the spout descended, the 

 agitation of the water increased, boiling up on each side of 

 the end of the spout, but not coming in contact with it. 

 The spout was slightly curved, the convexity of -the curve 

 being towards the point whence the wind came. It ap- 

 peared to be hollow, light in the middle, and black, like the 

 cloud, at its sides. A waving, ascending motion, was dis- 

 tinctly seen in the middle, more distinctly near the water 

 than near the cloud. This the sailors, with one accord, 

 pronounced to be water going up the spout. 



" This appearance lasted fifteen minutes, or more, the 

 spout remaining entire and unchanged. Then it began to 

 fade, and suddenly a section from its lower end disappeared, 

 leaving the same cirrous jagged extremity before mention- 

 ed. One section after another disappeared in this way, the 

 spout continuing to grow paler, the waving motion growing 

 more distinct and slow, and the agitation of the water sub- 

 siding, till the whole disappeared. By this time, the wind 

 had freshened considerably, and the cloud had spread over 

 a great part of the heavens. In a few minutes after, another 

 cone appeared, exactly like the first in all respects, and the 

 same appearance was exhibited in the water under it. This 

 continued a short time, and then disappeared. 



