masses
of rock covered with foam, which each minute dashed up in the air higher
than our lower mast-heads. The captain eyed it for some minutes in
silence, as if in calculation.

"Mr Falcon," said he at last, "we must put the mainsail on her."

"She never can bear it, sir."

"She _must_ bear it," was the reply. "Send the men aft to the
mainsheet. See that careful men attend the buntlines."

The mainsail was set, and the effect of it upon the ship was tremendous.
She careened over so that her lee channels were under the water; and
when pressed by a sea, the lee side of the quarter-deck and gangway were
afloat. She now reminded me of a goaded and fiery horse, mad with the
stimulus applied; not rising as before, but forcing herself through
whole seas, and dividing the waves, which poured in one continual
torrent from the forecastle down upon the decks below. Four men were
secured to the wheel--the sailors were obliged to cling, to prevent
being washed away--the ropes were thrown in confusion to leeward--the
shot rolled out of the lockers, and every eye was fixed aloft, watching
the masts, which were expected every moment to go over the side. A
heavy sea struck us on the broadside, and it was some moments before the
ship appeared to recover herself; she reeled, trembled, and stopped her
way, as if it had stupefied her. The first lieutenant looked at the
captain as if to say, "This will not do."

"It is our only chance," answered the captain to the appeal. That the
ship went faster through the water, and held a better wind, was certain;
but just before we arrived at the point, the gale increased in force.

"If any thing starts, we are lost, sir," observed the first lieutenant
again.

"I am perfectly aware of it," replied the captain, in a calm tone; "but,
as I said before, and you must now be aware, it is our only chance. The
consequence of any carelessness or neglect in the fitting and securing
of the rigging, will be felt now; and this danger, if we escape it,
ought to remind us how much we have to answer for if we neglect our
duty. The lives of a whole ship's company may be sacrificed by the
neglect or incompetence of an officer when in harbour."

The ship was now within two cables' lengths of the rocky point; some few
of the men I observed to clasp their hands, but most of them were
silently taking off their jackets, and kicking off their shoes, that
they might not lose a chance of escape provided the