44 STORM OFF CAPE HORN. 



veering on one cable to 105 fathoms, and on the other to 

 120 fathoms. 



The following morning, the gale moderating, we began to 

 hope for a favorable change of weather ; but towards sunset 

 the wind shifting to the southward, all hope of such change 

 vanished. The wind now freshened again, and by midnight 

 blew with such force that we let-go our last anchor, in the 

 hope of keeping the ship off shore till daylight, when perhaps 

 we might make sail and stand out to sea. It was so uncom- 

 monly dark, that there was quite as much, and perhaps more 

 danger in attempting to get to sea, than in holding on. 



At daylight we found that the larboard bower-chain had 

 parted, and the larboard sheet become unshackled at forty- 

 five fathoms ; we also found the ship had dragged so as to be 

 much nearer the reef off Penguin Point. 



The sky grew more angry as the clay declined ; — 



" The setting orb in crimson ' seem'd to mourn,' 



Denouncing greater woes at his return ; 



And adds new horrors to the present doom, 



By certain fears of evils yet to come." 



After the sun went down the storm raged with greater vio- 

 lence than at any previous time. Never had we seen it blow 

 so hard before, nor ever beheld such billows. A little after 

 8 o'clock the ship commenced dragging, and a tremendous 

 wave came over the bows, which dashed a number of the crew 

 against the masts and guns, and completely inundated the 

 berth-deck. Though, about 9 o'clock, the wind changed its 

 direction, so that the ship tailed clear of the above-mentioned 

 reef, yet we were not rescued from the danger of being ship- 

 wrecked. At every moment the water was becoming mor# 

 and more shoal. In less than half an hour it shoaled six 



