A STORM. 30! 
good share of animal spirits, we eat our break- 
fasts regardless of the impending danger, and 
afterwards sat down to a game of cards; but 
scarcely had we played for one hour when the 
dismal cry was heard of, All hands aloft, 3 " 
as the vessel was again drifting towards the 
shore. The day being very cold, I had fastened 
a blanket over my shoulders, and had throw n 
it round my waist with a girdle, in the Indian 
fashion; but being incapable of managing it 
like an Indian, I stopped to disencumber my¬ 
self of it before I went on deck, so that as 
it happened, I was the last man below r . The 
readiest way of going up was through the 
hatchway, and I had just got my foot upon 
the ladder, in order to ascend, when the ves¬ 
sel struck with great force upon the rocks. 
The women shrieking now flocked round me, 
begging for God’s sake that I would stay by 
them; at the same time my companions urged 
me from above to come up with all possible 
speed. To my latest hour I shall never for¬ 
get the emotions which I felt at that moment; 
to have staid below w r ould have been useless ; 
I endeavoured, therefore, to comfort the poor 
creatures that clung to me, and then disen¬ 
gaging myself from them, forced my way 
upon deck, where I was no sooner arrived than 
the hatches were instantly shut down upon 
the wretched females, whose shrieks resound- 
