890 
SOUTH SEA 
the same fearful moment also the force of the tempest 
strains his firmest grasp, and threatens to bury him in 
the dark abyss. When the ship that we sailed in from 
England was engaged on a previous voyage doubling the 
Cape, being outward bound, the captain ordered three of 
his best men to go out upon the bowsprit and stow the 
jib-sail, although the ship was every few minutes plung- 
ing headforemost into the enormous waves that opposed 
her progress, and which sometimes submersed her decks 
as far as the windlass. The poor fellows immediately 
saw the imminent danger to which they were about to 
be exposed, but a murmur was not heard to escape their 
lips. Quickly they handed the wet and heavy sail, but 
while they were so doing another mountainous w r ave is 
seen approaching— the ship “ pitches 99 headlong into it— 
their piercing cry of horror is heard above the roaring of 
the storm— in a moment they are engulphed, the relent™ 
less wave buries them deeply within its cold embrace; 
but the ship again rises, trembling from the concussion, 
the bowsprit is again seen above the roaring ocean — but 
where are the poor fellows who were upon it but a 
moment before ! A cry of horror runs through the ship, 
that they are washed away— but they are neither seen 
nor heard ; their cries are speedily hushed by the gurg- 
ling waters which roll above their heads— their out- 
stretched arms and grasping hands are mocked by the 
yielding fluid which they embrace, their heaving chests 
vehemently struggle for their natural expanse —their 
thoughts are a whirlwind of frightful despair — their 
hearts are choking and bursting from the pent-up blood 
