136 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



The squall had been the first burst of a regular built 

 gale, which was now blowing tremendously off shore. 

 Had we been all a-taunto Ave might have managed to 

 beat against it, but even then it would have been a 

 tedious business, and would have required careful 

 steering. At present, with only our jib standing, it 

 was perfectly impossible to dream of such a thing. 

 Xo earthly power could prevent our drifting out to 

 sea. 



Does any man who has not been placed in such a 

 position think that he can realise the feelings of two 

 human beings thrown thus, like us, waifs on the wide 

 ocean ? I believe that no man can ; but to assist the 

 imagination of such a one, let him consider one or 

 two things. The waters before us came, with scarcely 

 the break of an island, from the ice-fields of the south 

 pole, and behind us the waste might almost be 

 called boundless. In a few minutes we should, as 

 things went, find ourselves clear of the lee of the 

 land, and then the Indian coast might be considered 

 the nearest breakwater. The billows that would roll 

 after us would come with all the force collected 

 within such mighty limits, under the excitement of 

 the gale. Had our bark been of proportions to com- 

 bat the elements, we could have found no safety in 

 an unvictualled refuge. She would at most have 

 afforded us the means of prolonging agony. But I 

 cannot say that the want of provisions seemed to me 

 then to enhance the horrors of our condition. Our 



