A GALE OFF THE CAPE. 87 



L'Aguilas, or, as the sailors term it, " the residence 

 of old Boreas," one of those severe gales commenced 

 which are so commonly experienced at this season of 

 the year in doubling " the stormy Cape." It com- 

 menced with sudden violence, scarcely allowing time 

 to take in sail. The angry wind howled through the 

 rigging, and the heavy sea broke over our little 

 vessel fore and aft with overwhelming fury, drenching 

 the seamen, — many of whom were on several occa- 

 sions only saved from being washed overboard by 

 clinging to the ropes, — and producing among the 

 passengers no inconsiderable alarm. The hatches 

 were ordered to be well secured, and the only light 

 admitted into the cabin was through a few bulls'- 

 eyes, sufficient merely to render the gloominess of 

 our situation more apparent. Notwithstanding all 

 precautions, the water still found its way into the 

 cabin, to our very great inconvenience. 



The morning presented a most terrific scene. The 

 scud flew over our heads with fearful rapidity — the 

 waves ran so high, and in such quick succession, 

 that the vessel being deep in the water, appeared to 

 labour hard, and with difficulty to rise and meet the 

 immense billows, as they came rushing down, threat- 

 ening to engulph her. Towards the afternoon of 

 this day, while laying-to with her head to the wind, 

 under a close-reefed top-sail and storm stay- sail, a 

 heavy sea struck the vessel abaft, and started the 

 stern-posts, when the water rushed in through the 



