1831.] 
STORM WITH VIVID LIGHTNING. 
25 
breezes and clear weather. In this, he was disappointed ; as, on 
the twenty-eighth, the wind, which had for some hours prevailed 
from the eastward, with rain, partially died away, the sky became 
overcast with threatening appearances, which the wary and ex- 
perienced seamen very soon recognised as the prelude to the 
approaching gale. No light sails were spread to woo the fickle 
breeze, but topgallant and royal yards were sent upon deck, and 
the flying jib-boom housed. As the night set in, the wind in- 
creased. 
" Now, while on high the freshening gale she feels, 
The ship beneath her lofty pressure reels. 
Th' auxiliar sails, that court a gentle breeze, 
From their high stations sink by slow degrees." 
The courses were hauled up, jib stoVed, mizzen-topsail furled, 
spanker lowered, and the fore and main-topsails double reefed. 
It is at such times, and on such service as this, that the brave 
daring, the recklessness of danger, the ambition to be foremost 
when duty calls, no matter where, shine most conspicuous in the 
character of the thorough-bred and true sailor. 
" 'Tis his the harder toil to share, 
To reef, to furl the sail ; ^ , 
To face the, lightning's lurid glare, 
And brave the sweeping gale." 
Indeed, the true sailor takes pleasure in doing his duty amid 
real dangers, when he feels that the " superior officer set over 
him" is competent to judge whether or not that duty is performed 
in a seaman-like manner. . 
The gale, for by eight, P. M.,' it had the strength of one, in- 
creased every moment till ten, when the ship was brought to, 
head to the southward and westward, under close-reefed fore and 
main-topsails, and courses furled ; when, at the same time, the 
foretopmast-staysail was hauled down, and the fore-storm stay- 
sail set. , 
Soon after midnight the gale had increased to almost a perfect 
hurricane, and the ship was pressed down by the irresistible 
blast, until relieved by furling the close-reefed fore-topsail, and 
setting the main and mizzen-storm staysails. From twelve to 
