instrument through the
skylight on my own account, when the canvas suddenly flapped, and the
next second, without further warning of any description, a perfect
tornado burst upon us.

The ship was taken flat aback, and over she went, bowing helplessly
before the irresistible strength of the hurricane. I thought I heard
Armitage's voice shouting an order of some kind, but if such was the
case it was impossible to distinguish the words through the deafening
rush of the wind, which completely swallowed up all other sounds. As I
felt the deck rapidly heeling under my feet I made a desperate
scrambling spring for the nearest port on the weather side; for I
somehow seemed to realise instinctively that the _Daphne's_ brief career
was ended--that she would never again recover herself, but would "turn
the turtle" altogether. The ominous words of the riggers on that day
when, in the first flush of my new-born dignity, I went down to inspect
the craft which was to be my future home, recurred to my mind as vividly
as though they had that moment been spoken, and I felt that the prophecy
lurking behind them was then in the very act of fulfilment. I was
fortunate enough to reach and grasp one of the gun-tackles, and drawing
myself up to windward by its aid, I passed out through the open port on
to the upturned weather side of the ship, where I paused for a moment to
glance behind, or rather beneath me. I shall never forget the sight
which then met my gaze. The ship was lying over on her beam-ends with
her lower yard-arms deeply buried in the sea. The whole of the lee side
of the deck was submerged; the water was pouring in tons down the open
hatchways, the lee coamings of which were already under water, and the
watch below could be seen ineffectually endeavouring to make their way
up on deck through these openings, the rush of water down which
irresistibly drove them back again at each attempt. As for the watch on
deck they were already either swimming about in the sea to leeward or
clinging convulsively to the rigging, whither a few had instinctively
betaken themselves when the ship first went over. But I had time only
for a momentary glance; the sloop had hung stationary in this position
for just the barest perceptible space of time; then with a sudden jar
she began to settle once more, and I had time only to scramble
breathlessly along her wet and slippery sides and on to her bilge when
she rolled fairly over and floated k