78 CUEKENTS AND TYPHOONS. 



or come entirely to grief, if overtaken by one of these 

 circular storms, particularly if something of the law of 

 storms is not understood by the man in command. 

 The act of running before the wind is tempting enough, 

 when your course is the right one ; but it is far from 

 being the safest to adopt. If continued, a vessel will, of 

 course, keep sailing in a circle, and in so doing pass in 

 front of the centre, possibly get into it. Again, a vessel 

 may run on for so long that, although her commander 

 is well aware she ought to be hove-to, it has become a 

 very hazardous evolution. She may, when in the act 

 of coming to the wind, be struck by a heavy sea, broach 

 to, and be taken aback, and go down stern foremost. 



I remember well on one occasion being in a ship 

 which was kept before the wind, until to round her to, 

 and bring her to the wind, was out of the question. 

 There was nothing left but to continue to scud before 

 it. The ship — a big one and a Symonite — became very 

 difficult to manage. Sometimes she was all but broad- 

 side on ; then rushing before it, and the next minute 

 whirled round with her other side to the wind. Our 

 boats were washed away or destroyed, and the vessel 

 strained. If we had lain-to, and allowed the gale to 

 pass, no damage whatever would have occurred. 



On the other hand, with a good ship, and perfect 



