82 
IN FOBBIDDEN SEAS 
and as we approached Tsugaru Strait it blew with 
almost hurricane force. We kept on before it under 
small sail, heading for the middle of the strait, until 
we dared run no longer, and, watching for an oppor¬ 
tunity, brought the vessel to the wind. The fore¬ 
sheet was hauled well in, the wheel put halfway 
down and lashed in that position, and we “ lay to ” 
under a close-reefed foresail. The full force of the 
wind then fell upon us ; a mountainous sea was 
running, heavy driving rain-squalls struck us, and 
the night was black as Erebus. It was impossible 
to stand on deck without holding on to something. 
To get along the deck we had to crawl, hauling our¬ 
selves along by the rigging, the rail, and ropes. But 
the Snowdrop was a grand sea-boat, and she rode the 
seas like a gull, taking very little water on board. 
We reckoned we were somewhere about the middle 
of the strait, and nearly up to Low Island. Being 
pretty well tired out, and knowing we were com¬ 
paratively safe unless we hit something, I took the 
opportunity to go below to lie down, and soon 
dropped off to sleep. I was awakened by my friend 
A., who urged me to turn out, as the foresail had 
blown all to pieces with a sudden shift of wind, and 
we were being driven towards the land. 
Having no sail on, we were rolling tremendously. 
Clad only in pyjamas and a pair of rubber boots, I 
went on deck. It was still intensely dark, but the 
tops of the combing seas, apparently higher than 
our mast-heads, could be made out, as they thundered 
towards us ; the schooner rose to them like a duck, 
and no heavy water came on board, but our drift 
was considerable, every huge sea appearing to drive 
us many fathoms. The wind had got to the north- 
