THE LAST OF THE PORPOISE. 
165 
and lost to sight. This separation was regarded as of 
4 little moment, for the brig Avas well manned, and her offi- 
cers, individually and collectively, were men of the first 
ability and courage : — you knew them all. 
‘‘It is generally understood by seamen that sound ves- 
sels are safer alone than in company; for the -whole at- 
tention of the commander may be devoted to the care of 
his vessel without those modifications of plan required 
when acting in concert. In those seas the obscurity of 
the night rendered it difficult to distinguish light, and 
the sound of cannon would be lost in the roaring of the 
winds and waves. Therefore, neither surprise nor special 
anxiety -was experienced on that occasion. 
“The Vincennes, having passed the Bashee passage, 
entered the Pacific, and, until her arrival at the Bonin 
Islands, experienced fine -w^eather. The arrival of the 
Porpoise — a dull sailer — was daily expected. Meanwhile 
there came on, at night, one of those characteristic storms 
of the Bonins, — a hurricane or cyclone. It came unhe- 
ralded, except by the slightly-increased sound of the surf 
on the outer rocks; and it was not until the fitful gusts 
that, by their peculiar tone, are recognised by those wffio 
have heard it, swept from the hills over the ship, that we 
were aware of its proximity. Nearly shut in by moun- 
tains, the Vincennes, with lo-v\^er yards and topmasts struck 
and four anchors down, trembled from the vibration of the 
masts and rigging. There was no shrill whistling of the 
wind, but a deep and hollow roar; the crests of the waves 
were caught up, and whitened the air wuth drift. The 
falling barometer and the veering wind presented all the 
indications of a cyclone sweeping toward the north. It 
