pressed as she was by her canvas, was ratching fast through the
water on a course that was not only carrying her off the land but also
somewhat to the eastward, so that, with the moderating of the gale, or
even a slight shift of wind, we might hope to pass clear into the
Atlantic.

But, after all, the amount of comfort to be derived from this reflection
was but small and fleeting in face of the steadily-increasing strength
of the gale and the rapidly-growing height and steepness of the sea;
even as it was, the man Harry, who happened to be at the wheel at the
moment that I now have in mind, found his strength and skill taxed to
the utmost to humour the brig along through that wild sea, the
perspiration streaming from every pore of him as he stood there, fully
exposed to the keen and nipping fury of the blast; and it was perfectly
evident that, unless something were speedily done, disaster must quickly
overtake us.

And something _was_ presently done; for although my representations and
suggestion had been met and rejected with scorn and derision, an
argument of a most convincing character was soon brought to bear upon
the contumacious ones, in the shape of a green sea that came right in
over the bows, half-filling the forecastle, and frightening the
occupants out of their wits, while it carried away some thirty feet of
bulwark on the port side. The deluge of water that poured down through
the fore-scuttle was sufficient in volume to actually wash several of
the men out of their bunks; and the instant that the inpour ceased, all
hands with one accord sprang for the opening, fighting together like
savage beasts in their anxiety to reach the deck. But although that
unlucky sea had inflicted upon the poor little over-driven brig a rather
serious amount of damage, it had produced at least one good result: it
had completely sobered all hands and brought them to a realising sense
of the necessity to take immediate steps for the prevention of further
mischief.

As the fellows gained the deck and saw the great gap in the bulwarks,
and observed the height, steepness, and generally dangerous character of
the sea, something very like a panic seized them, and they came rushing
aft, with loud and excited outcries, demanding to know what had
happened. Meanwhile I had sprung to the wheel, to the assistance of the
helmsman, who, it was quite clear, was nearly exhausted by his
tremendous and continued efforts to control the moveme