214 CONSEQUENCES OF TURNING THE SHIP TOO SUDDENLY. 



The ship with its full velocity had turned too suddenly 

 against the wind, and when a wave had once washed 

 over and depressed the prow, it retained the inclined 

 position and was driven down by its velocity on the 

 incline. At this critical moment I involuntarily assumed 

 the command, and called loudly into the engine room 

 hard by "Stop!", as the captain was wont to do. 

 Luckily the engine-men instantly obeyed. But the 

 ship's velocity could only be slowly reduced. We all 

 stood on the raised poop, and saw the fore -deck 

 becoming continually shorter and the sea more and 

 more approaching our standing place. Then the sea 

 broke over the after -deck, and a mighty whirlpool 

 was formed, the water pouring through the open 

 hatch into the ship's hold. Our end seemed at hand. 

 Then the swirl became weaker, and after some further 

 anxious moments the prow once more appeared above 

 the water, and we breathed fresh hope, for the violent 

 rocking and the ominous blows had now ceased. 



My brother, who in the hold had not been able 

 to observe the approach of danger, was completely 

 surprised by the sea-water suddenly deluging himself 

 and the drum. All the greater was his delight when 

 the rush of sea-water ceased, and it soon after became 

 possible for him to adjust the wooden supports, and 

 thereby prevent the dangerous blows of the axis of 

 the drum. The captain now cautiously resumed the 

 course to Oran. The vessel continued indeed still to 

 rock disagreeably, but we got accustomed to it, and 

 rejoiced that the drum did not stir again. The great 



