g line, that it was now plain to see was pursuing us, and I
wondered whether we should be able to swim and save our lives when it
came upon us with a hiss and a roar, such as I had often heard when on
the beach.

"We shall never do it," said one of the men, who half-jumped from his
seat the next moment as the captain leaned forward from where he was
rowing and gave him a sound box on the ears.

"Pull, you cowardly humbug!" he cried. "Not do it? A set of furriners
wouldn't do it; but we're Englishmen, and we're going to do it. If we
don't, it won't be our fault. Pull!"

This trifling incident had its effect, for the men pulled harder than
ever, exhausted though they were. It was a struggle for life now, and I
knew it; but somehow I did not feel frightened in the least, but stunned
and confused, and at the same time interested, as I saw the great line
of haze and foam coming on. Then I was listening to the dull roar,
which was rapidly increasing into what seemed a harsh yell louder than
thunder.

"Pull, my lads!" shouted the captain, with his voice sounding strange
and harsh in the awful silence around us, for, loud as was the roar of
the storm, it seemed still afar off.

The men pulled, and then we relieved them again, with the great drops
gathering on our faces in the intense heat; and my breath came thick and
short, till I felt as it were a sense of burning in my chest. Then I
grew half-blind with my eyes staring back at the wall of haze; and then,
as I felt that I should die if I strained much longer at that oar, I
heard the captain shout:

"In oars!" and I found that we were alongside the schooner, and close
under her lee.

There was just time to get on board, and we were in the act of hauling
up the boat, when, with an awful whistle and shriek, the storm was upon
us, and we were all clinging for life to that which was nearest at hand.

Now, I daresay you would like me to give you a faithful account of my
impressions of that storm, and those of one who went through it from the
time that the hurricane struck us till it passed over, leaving the sky
clear, the sun shining, and the sea heaving slowly and without a single
crest.

I feel that I can do justice to the theme, so here is my faithful
description of that storm.

_A horrid wet, stifling, flogging row_.

That's all I can recollect. That's all I'm sure that the doctor could
recollect, or the captain or anybody else. We were just about drowned