WHITBY LIGHTS. 
333 
everything that came in its way. To us, this novel 
form of water-spout was grand in the extreme. That 
afternoon the elements proved impossible to contend 
with; we, who had grown accustomed to the gale, by 
daily contact with its force, were at length compelled 
reluctantly to give in, beaten in the long struggle. 
We hove-to in company with some ships bound north 
possibly, and others, like ourselves, bound towards the 
south; but these, like ourselves, were unable to 
endure the force of the tempest. As the wind began 
to lull, by comparison be it said, we again set out on 
our course. This time we stood towards Whitby 
lights, and we caught sight of them just at the proper 
moment, for we were in ground swell before we 
got the schooner round. There are few vessels afloat 
that could weather a point in a gale better or with 
the ease of our little vessel, and she well maintains her 
reputation ; but this night she has to grapple with the 
gale, now grown more fierce than ever, and in an evil 
moment we ship a sea! The water runs well over 
the taffrail, carrying with it the frail woodwork, and 
bursting out her sides and gunwale, carrying all before 
it. Of her two boat's, one was soon washed away, the 
other was shivered to pieces. The galley shifted with 
the shock was slewed round, and so overturned, that 
evidently there can be no cooking there to-morrow, to 
