VOYAGE FROM ODESSA, 
pillars, dark and terrible; these were whirled 
upon their bases, and advanced with astonishing 
rapidity along the horizon, on either side, against 
the wind. Our Captain, who had retired for a 
short repose, being called by the boatswain to 
notice this appearance, instantly ordered all 
the yards to be struck ; and we remained under 
bare poles, while an awful silence prevailed on 
board. It was not of long duration. Suddenly 
such a hurricane came upon the vessel from the 
north-west, that we thought she would have 
foundered, in the mere attempt to take it, as 
the mode of expression is, in poop 1 . During 
one entire hour, the ship was suffered to drive 
before the storm, encountering all the fury of 
the wind and sea, without being able to bear 
away from the land. At every plunge our 
vessel made, her bowsprit and forecastle were 
carried under water : a few sailors at the helm 
were lashed to the steerage, but almost every 
tiling upon the deck was washed away. If the 
tempest had continued half an hour longer, no 
one of the crew would have survived, to tell the 
story. About five o’clock its force had some- 
what abated ; and the Captain laid the vessel, 
(l) Taking a gale in pt)pa, is done by opposing the ship’s stern to 
the wind, and letting her drive before it, under hare poles. 
