OUR SCHOONER STRIKES A ROCK. 293 



lead-line and the composition of the bottom so completely 

 differed from what we expected, that there scarcely remain- 

 ed a doubt that we were astray ; still we were drifting very 

 rapidly to the north-west, the fog, if any thing, growing 

 denser. About eleven, our captain having given the look- 

 out strict injunctions to keep his eyes open while he again 

 went below to examine his chart, I followed suit. I could 

 scarcely have been in the cabin over five minutes when the 

 schooner received a severe shock, which caused me to rush 

 on deck. We had struck a rock forward, a little to star- 

 board of the stem, but the tide had fortunately swung us 

 round clear, and we were drifting on as if nothing had 

 happened. On sounding, we found we were making water 

 rapidly, faster than the pumps could throw it out. True, 

 we had the boats, and our danger was trifling, but the 

 security of the gallant craft was imminent. Not a word 

 of anger did the captain permit to escape his lips, but ac- 

 cepted all as destiny. Scarcely twenty minutes had we 

 been in this uncertain state when a gentle breeze sprang up 

 and the fog rapidly lifted, giving us an observation, and 

 disclosing a panorama never to be forgotten. Tier after 

 tier of sterile hills overtopped each other to the north, 

 grand in their bold and fantastic outline, while a white 

 sandy beach met the blue water, occasionally interrupted 

 by a reef of rocks jutting out into the azure element. Not 

 over a mile separated us from the shore; and projecting 

 headlands shut us in from west and easterly gales; while 

 a reef of rocks, the extremity of which we had touched, 

 formed a natural breakwater a mile and a half to the east- 

 ward. If so disposed, with the wind from its present di- 

 rection, we should have found it a difficult matter to beat 

 out ; and when the skipper informed me that he intended 

 running in and stranding the vessel at the first high tide, I 

 not only highly approved, but was much delighted with 



