A GALE. 11 



top of his old souwester, and as the frigate forged ahead, the boat 

 dropped astern, and was pulled back to the Lucretia Ann. 



We had only three days of bad "weather," and those we en- 

 joyed, I think, quite as much as any. The storm was preceded 

 by some twenty-four hours of a clear, fresh north-wester, driving 

 us along on our course with foaming, sparkling and most exhil- 

 arating speed. It gives a fine sensation to be so borne along, like 

 that of riding a great, powerful and spirited horse, or of dashing 

 yourself through the crashing surf, and in your own body breast- 

 ing away the billows 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 appear- 

 ance of intense mysterious purpose over them. The expression 

 was of vehement energy blindly directed. The ship, lying-to 

 under the smallest storm-stay-sail, seemed to have composed her- 

 self for a trial, and, neither advancing nor shrinking, rose and 

 fell with more than habitual ease and dignity. 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. 



"If only that north-wester had continued" every body is 

 saying "we might have been in Liverpool by this." It's not 

 unfashionable yet at sea to talk about the weather. I am to 

 write about what is most interesting us ? Well, the wind and 

 weather. Bad time when it comes to that ? Well, now, here 

 I am, sitting on a trunk, bracing myself between two berths, 



