154 
A GREAT SATISFACTION. 
is much out, we will strike on the east or west cape, as 
tlie case maybe. If we remain here and the gale goes 
on hauling, we will be on a lee shore before morning, and 
you know what the old beast would do then. My voice is 
for running on a south course. Voild ! — the elephant!’ 
“ He shrugged his shoulders, half Frenchman as he is, 
and indulged in a muttered imprecation, as the ship made 
a heavy lurch that almost threw us from our feet. 
‘I think, too, that our best chance is in running, sir,’ 
I replied, as Stevens again asked my opinion; ‘it’s an 
ugly night, and we are as likely to feel the capes as see 
them: still, it won’t do to remain hei'e.’ 
“‘Well, then, run it is; we have the satisfaction of 
knowing that we are all agreed, at any rate. Tell Mr. 
Lawton to get up plenty of steam ; and have all hands 
called to wear ship. Goose-wing the foresail, secure 
every thing about the decks, batten down the cabin sky- 
light, and let me know when j^ou’re ready for putting the 
helm up. Thei'e’s an awful sea running, but we must 
try to find a smooth time, and then get by the trough as 
soon as possible.’ 
“ So we left him and went on deck, where an active 
and exciting scene at once commenced. The clear, shrill 
whistle of our only boatswain’s mate first arose over the 
howling of the gale, and called every man to his station 
for ‘ wearing ship.’ Then commenced the preparations, — 
lights floating around the gloomy decks, and only serving 
to render every thing more gloomy than before; men 
hurrying here and there; the flapping of sails, the creak- 
ing of blocks, the slapping about of the running rigging, 
and the unnatural voice of the speaking-trumpet stiiving 
