m the northward, obliged
us to desist, as the hulk began once more to roll so violently that
we could no longer keep our feet. We now went forward, and, lashing
ourselves securely to the remnant of the windlass as before, awaited the
event with far more calmness than could have been anticipated or would
have been imagined possible under the circumstances. At noon the wind
had freshened into a two-reef breeze, and by night into a stiff gale,
accompanied with a tremendously heavy swell. Experience having taught
us, however, the best method of arranging our lashings, we weathered
this dreary night in tolerable security, although thoroughly drenched at
almost every instant by the sea, and in momentary dread of being washed
off. Fortunately, the weather was so warm as to render the water rather
grateful than otherwise.

July 25. This morning the gale had diminished to a mere ten-knot breeze,
and the sea had gone down with it so considerably that we were able to
keep ourselves dry upon the deck. To our great grief, however, we found
that two jars of our olives, as well as the whole of our ham, had been
washed overboard, in spite of the careful manner in which they had been
fastened. We determined not to kill the tortoise as yet, and contented
ourselves for the present with a breakfast on a few of the olives, and
a measure of water each, which latter we mixed half and half, with
wine, finding great relief and strength from the mixture, without the
distressing intoxication which had ensued upon drinking the port. The
sea was still far too rough for the renewal of our efforts at getting up
provision from the storeroom. Several articles, of no importance to us
in our present situation, floated up through the opening during the day,
and were immediately washed overboard. We also now observed that the
hulk lay more along than ever, so that we could not stand an instant
without lashing ourselves. On this account we passed a gloomy and
uncomfortable day. At noon the sun appeared to be nearly vertical, and
we had no doubt that we had been driven down by the long succession of
northward and northwesterly winds into the near vicinity of the equator.
Toward evening we saw several sharks, and were somewhat alarmed by the
audacious manner in which an enormously large one approached us. At one
time, a lurch throwing the deck very far beneath the water, the monster
actually swam in upon us, floundering for some moments just over the
companio