THE ROARING FORTIES 115 



Winchester, who had assumed command after 

 the captain had broken his leg, set a course to 

 take us directly through the passage. Running 

 before a light breeze that bellied all our sails, we 

 began to draw near the sea gorge at the base of 

 the mountain. Then, without warning, from 

 over the horizon came a savage white squall, 

 blotting out mountain, pass, sea, and sky, 



I never saw bad weather blow up so quickly. 

 One moment the ship was gliding over a smooth 

 sea in bright sunlight. The next, a cloud as 

 white and almost as thick as wool had closed 

 down upon it; snow was falling heavily in big, 

 moist flakes, a stiff wind was heeling the vessel 

 on its side, and we could not see ten feet beyond 

 the tip of the jib boom. 



The wind quickened into a gale. By fast 

 work we managed to furl sails and double-reef 

 the topsail before they carried away. Soon the 

 deck was white with four or five inches of snow. 

 On the forecastle-head Big Foot Louis was 

 posted as lookout. Everybody was anxious. 

 Mr. Winchester took his stand close by the main 

 shrouds at the break of the poop and kept gaz- 



