“SPECIAL SERVICE*’ AND “EXTRA PAY.” 
149 
were alongsidcj with the boat half full of water, ourselves 
soaked to the skin and half numbed with cold, but still 
safe. 
“‘Glad to see you!’ said the captain, as we crawled 
heavily over the side. ‘Bad weather came up very sud- 
denly: didn’t it? Nevermind; it’ll rub off when it gets 
dry : besides, this is special service, for which Congress is 
to give us extra pay. Heave the ship to with her head 
off shore, Mr. Russell.’ So much for this unpleasantly- 
near approach to a long swim.” 
We now experienced a continued spell of bad weather, 
which forced us to relinquish the idea of reaching the 
Great Wall, and drove us with tingling ears from the Gulf 
of Pichili into the Yellow Sea. I have already remarked 
that the surface of this sea was like a vast expanse of 
polished glass when we crossed it in tow of the Pow- 
hatan, and that we had not felt a breath of wind daring 
the passage ; but now, alas ! how changed was the state 
of affairs ! The sea w^as dark and broken, and gale suc- 
ceeded gale in place of the endless calm. There were 
some doubtful islands in this sea which we wished to 
satisfy ourselves in regard to before returning to Shang- 
hae, and several more days were devoted to searching for 
them. We were unsuccessful; and, finding time running 
short, squared away on our I'eturn-trip. 
This was during the latter part of November, 1854, — the 
28th, I think; and that night we had a fearful time. Let 
me describe it. 
Imagine yourself upon the restless ocean with the 
destroying hurricane bi'eathing its furious breath around 
your labouring craft; with the rugged rocks and boiling 
