THE START S; 



ward on deck. I often saw only a hotch-potch of sea, 

 drifting planks, arms, legs, and empty barrels. Now a 

 green sea poured over us and knocked a man off his legs 

 so that the water deluged him ; now I saw the lads jump- 

 ing over hurtling spars and barrels, so as not to get their 

 feet crushed between them. There was not a dry thread 

 on them. Juell, who lay asleep in the " Grand Hotel," as 

 we called one of the long-boats, awoke to hear the sea 

 roaring under him like a cataract. I met him at the 

 cabin door as he came runnino; down. It was no longer 

 safe there, he thought ; best to save one's rags — he had a 

 bundle under his arm. Then he set off forward to secure 

 his sea-chest, which was floating about on the fore-deck, 

 and dragged it hurriedly aft, while one heavy sea after 

 another swept over him. Once the Frani buried her 

 bows and shipped a sea over the forecastle. There was 

 one fellow clinging to the anchor-davits over the frothing 

 water. It was poor Juell again. We were hard put to it 

 to secure our Qroods and chattels. We had to throw all 

 our good paraffin casks overboard, and one prime timber 

 balk after another went the same way, while I stood and 

 watched them sadly as they floated off. The rest of the 

 deck carCTo was shifted aft on to the half-deck. I am 

 afraid the shares in the expedition stood rather low at 

 this moment. Then all at once, when things w^ere about 

 at their worst with us, we sighted a bark looming out of 

 the fog ahead. There it lay with royals and all sails set, 

 as snugly and peacefully as if nothing were the matter. 



