lOG WHIRLWINDS. 



raised, when a boat was lowered and a rope thrown 

 on board for the purpose of to wing the junk to the 

 ship. This intention was frustrated by the windlass 

 breaking. At sight of this, one man, in a paroxysm 

 of despair, jumped overboard after the rope; but he 

 missed it. Being a good swimmer, he tried to reach 

 the boat ; but his feeble power could avail him noth- 

 ing in the midst of such raging elements : he speedily 

 sank to 'rise no more. 



Another rope, however, was secured to the junk, 

 and by means of it the rest of the crew (eighteen in 

 number) were saved. Their gratitude was bound- 

 less. They almost worshipped the officers, the crew, 

 and the vessel, prostrating themselves and kissing 

 the feet of the former, and the very planks of the 

 latter. 



Well-built ships, however, are not always able to 

 withstand the violence of rotatory storms. Instances 

 occur in which the tightest built and best manned 

 ships are destroyed as suddenly as the clumsiest of 

 ill-managed junks. Not many years ago, a vessel 

 was proceeding prosperously on her voyage, when 

 signs of a coming tempest induced the wary captain 

 to reduce, and, finally, to take in all sail. But his 

 precautions were in vain. The storm burst on the 

 devoted ship, and in a few minutes the masts went 

 over the side, and the hull lay a total wreck upon 

 the sea. 



These hurricanes or cyclones, although in reality 

 whirlwinds, are so large that man's eye cannot 



