OUR SCHOONER STRIKES A ROCK. 2938 
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 uever 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 
