, they
could bear them no longer. As we pulled in, the atmosphere became more
opaque, and the darkness more intense. We supposed ourselves to be at
the mouth of the harbour, but could see nothing--not three yards a-head
of the boat. Swinburne, who always went with me, was steering the boat,
and I observed to him the unusual appearance of the night.

"I've been watching it, sir," replied Swinburne, "and I tell you, Mr
Simple, that if we only know how to find the brig, that I would advise
you to get on board of her immediately. She'll want all her hands this
night, or I'm much mistaken."

"Why do you say so?" replied I.

"Because I think, nay, I may say that I'm sartin, we'll have a hurricane
afore morning. It's not the first time I've cruised in these latitudes.
I recollect in 1794--"

But I interrupted him: "Swinburne, I believe that you are right. At all
events I'll turn back; perhaps we may reach the brig before it comes on.
She carries a light, and we can find her out." I then turned the boat
round, and steered, as near as I could guess, for where the brig was
lying. But we had not pulled out more than two minutes, before a low
moaning was heard in the atmosphere--now here, now there--and we
appeared to be pulling though solid darkness, if I may use the
expression. Swinburne looked around him, and pointed out on the
starboard bow.

"It's a coming, Mr Simple, sure enough; many's the living being that
will not rise on its legs to-morrow. See, sir."

I looked, and dark as it was, it appeared as if a sort of black wall was
sweeping along the water right towards us. The moaning gradually
increased to a stunning roar, and then at once it broke upon us with a
noise to which no thunder can bear a comparison. The sea was perfectly
level, but boiling, and covered with a white foam, so that we appeared
in the night to be floating on milk. The oars were caught by the wind
with such force, that the men were dashed forward under the thwarts,
many of them severely hurt. Fortunately we pulled with tholes and pins,
or the gunwale and planks of the boats would have been wrenched off, and
we should have foundered. The wind soon caught the boat on her
broadside, and had there been the least sea, would have inevitably
thrown her over; but Swinburne put the helm down, and she fell off
before the hurricane, darting through the boiling water at the rate of
ten miles an hour. All hands were aghast; they had recovered t