TREMENDOUS STORM. 
379 
rectly in our way, and being near us, became an 
object of great alarm. We were apprehensive 
that, should we fall in with it at night, we should 
not find room to wear clear of it. Every possi¬ 
ble precaution was used. A “ hand” was lashed 
in the fore-rigging to look out: others were sta¬ 
tioned wherever they could be secured; and the 
remainder of the crew were kept in readiness be¬ 
low, to come up at a moment’s warning. Provi¬ 
dentially, we passed the night,—a dangerous and 
anxious night, of uncommon darkness,—without 
falling in with any thing, or experiencing any ac¬ 
cident, excepting the washing away of our bul¬ 
warks fore and aft,—the staving of one of our 
boats,—and the loss of another. This damage 
and loss was sustained by the reflux of water, 
principally taken over the gunwale and rail to 
leeward,—knots of seas sometimes bursting from 
under the ship’s lee, and rising to the height of 
two or three yards above the deck. 
Joyful was the appearance of day-break. I never 
before understood the full force of the expression 
of the Psalmist,—“ My soul waiteth for the Lord, 
more than they that watch for the morning .”— 
When the curtain of night began to be withdrawn, 
a marked darkness appeared on our lee-bow, which, 
as day-light advanced, proved to be the object of 
our apprehension, St Kilda, at the distance only 
