66 APPENDIX. 



fear of danger : and . as each rose from the performance of what he 

 deemed an humble acknowledgment of the divine power, I could per- 

 ceive a resolution and determination which reassured me in the com- 

 ing difficulties. 



" The wind had now begun steadily to increase, scudding squalls 

 passed rapidly ; while, at intervals, the heavens opened with liquid 

 fire. The masts were to be shipped : and here it was the coarse and 

 rude stile of rigging presented its difficulties. The weight of the 

 sprits, which was enormous, aided by the sudden lurching of the boat, 

 as she fell into the trough of the sea, rendered the setting the fore- 

 sail a matter of danger : but we were rapidly drifting towards the 

 island, and no time was to be lost in getting the boat close to the 

 wind. This at length accomplished, she became more steady, but 

 the gale rapidly increased, and, as she now mounted the breaking 

 summits of the heavy and long seas, it became apparent that we 

 should not fetch the upper entrance of the island. A consultation 

 was now held as to the propriety of getting up the mainsail, and at 

 once putting her on the sea tack. The objections were, that we might 

 lose our reckoning, and miss the entrance, whilst nothing but de- 

 struction awaited our falling below the island. The mainsail was at 

 length got up ; and now, indeed, we began to feel the value of good 

 ballast. She stood up admirably wet, indeed but stiffly : and al- 

 though we found ourselves, by my unluckily letting her fall off a point 

 just as she was rising, once or twice buried in the crest of a sea, we 

 had no apprehension but that she would, in her task, stand up for 

 the harbour. We kept well out to sea gunwhales under just shi- 

 vering the sails as the gusts increased, and still she kept to the wind. 

 Another terrific crash of thunder, which appeared close over our 

 heads, again prostrated my men. I began to be angry, as I, being 

 at the helm, needed their assistance at the sheet. 



"It was at this moment that a squall came off the headland, 

 catching the sea at about a quarter of a mile from our little struggling 

 vessel. The surface seemed uprooted : the foam danced over the 

 ocean in a white mass ; and, ere I could summon the attention of the 



