TRAVEL S IN THE CAL IFOR NIAS. 7 
southwestern sky. The captain stood upon the companion- 
way, looking at the barometer. In a little time officers and 
passengers gathered in a knot on the larboard-quarter. 
u I ken there’s a storm cornin’ up frae the soo’est,” said 
the Scotch mate* 
a The clouds loom fast, sir, in that quarter,” said Mr. 
Newell, the American second-mate. u I reckon it will be 
upon us soon.” 
Captain Duncan needed no information in regard to the 
weather on these shores. He was everywhere an accomplish¬ 
ed seaman. On the quarter-deck-—with his quadrant—on 
the spars—and at the halyards ; but especially in that pro¬ 
phetic knowledge of the weather, which gives the sons of 
Neptune their control over the elements, he had no superiors. 
u Take in the studding-sails and make all fast on deck,” 
is the order, issued with quietness and obeyed with alacrity. 
Water casks, long-boat, and caboose are lashed, ropes 
coiled up and hung on the pins in the bulwarks, and the 
hatches put down in storm rig. The wind before which 
we were funning abated, and the horizon along the line of 
departing light began to lift a rough undulating edge. 
u Take in the mainsail!” u Go aloft and take a reef in 
the maintop!” a In with the fore-main, and let the trysail 
run !” followed each other in haste, as the sailors moved to 
the cheering music of their songs in the work of preparing' 
the ship to wrestle with a southwester. Everything being 
made snug, we waited its coming. 
The rough water which appeared a mere speck when the 
w T ind came upon the circle of vision, had widened till its ex¬ 
treme points lay over the bows. On it came, widening and 
elevating itself more and more ! The billows had previously 
been smooth, or at least ruffled sufficient only to give their 
gently heaving sides a furzy aspect, while the tops occasional¬ 
ly rose in transparent combs, which immediately crumbled by 
their own weight into foam down their leeward acclivities. 
But now a stronger spirit had laid his arm on these ocean 
2 
