8 
STORM AT SEA. 
17—26 Nov. 
passenger (and here I was the only one) will naturally feel as 
anxious and watchful as those to whom that safety is entrusted. 
I saw that our fate depended on the sail, and we knew that to replace 
it by another was impracticable at this time. After devising various 
plans, I proposed that another sail should be hoisted under the lee 
of it, so that in the event of its giving way, the pressure of the wind 
would then be sustained by the lee sail. The suggestion was instantly 
approved, and no time was lost in carrying it into execution. 
After this we felt as if the crisis of our danger were past, and 
looked with some hope for a favourable termination to the tempest. 
Drifting at the mercy of the elements, we were unable to estimate 
our lee-way, or to calculate with any certainty what part of the 
ocean we were in. 
Thus passed the whole of the day. In the night the violence of 
the wind began to abate a little, and in the course of the forenoon of 
the following day (18/^) it became sufficiently moderate to allow of 
our making sail again. Every one resumed a cheerful countenance, 
and congratulated each other on having thus happily weathered so tre- 
mendous a storm. Our little vessel was in gratitude praised for many 
good qualities ; and the captain, who had been very unfortunate in his 
ships, several having been wrecked or cast ashore, some foundered at 
sea, and one consumed by fire, now confessed that at one time his 
hopes of ever reaching land had deserted him. Every one was busily 
employed in repairing damages, and in rectifying the confusion into 
which the deck had been thrown. The unusual and unexpected 
length of the voyage reduced us to a short allowance of water, and 
our stock of fresh provisions had been exhausted three days before. 
We shaped our course once more towards the Cape, and continued 
sailing, with variable winds and unsettled weather, for four days ; but 
on the 23d and 24th the weather became fair and pleasant, and the 
wind blew right in our favour. 
On the 25th, in the morning, at a little before eight o'clock, 
having a light westerly wind, we again made the Cape land ; and re- 
joiced to find that the cloud had left the mountain. Having paid so 
