r some time, another heavy gale arose, and,
fearful of being driven on shore, they again stood off land. When they
had got, as they supposed, far enough out, they sent down the loftier
spars, secured the lower masts and yards with additional stays, and,
with all canvas furled except their foresails, prepared to weather the
storm. On finding the fierce wind which began to blow, the pilot and
master urged the Captain-Major, for fear the ships should founder, to
run back along the coast and enter the river which they had before
discovered; but he replied that he would not allow such words to be
spoken, for, as he was going over the bar at Lisbon, he had sworn not to
turn back a single foot of the way he had once gained, and whoever
should dare to counsel such a proceeding should be hove overboard.

Notwithstanding that the tempest increased he remained firm. The gale
now blew from one quarter, now from another. At times the wind fell,
but the sea continued tossing about with such power that the ships,
labouring severely, were in great danger, now lurching on one side, now
on another; while the men had to secure themselves from being washed
overboard or dashed along the decks. As yet things had not grown to
their worst. It became difficult even to work the pumps, while the
water came in both from above and below, and many of the crew sank and
died. Again the pilots and masters of the other vessels urged their
captains to put back; but they received the same answer as before, that
as long as Vasco da Gama set the example they could not accede to their
request, while he declared that even should he see a hundred die before
his eyes, return he would not, for that by so doing they would lose all
their labours. He reminded them that having already doubled the Cape of
Storms, they were in that region in which India was to be discovered.
"Trust in God, He will deliver us," he added.

Notwithstanding the brave words of their leader, the seamen continued to
clamour; but even though the sea began to go down and the wind to abate,
and the ships were able to get nearer each other, the crews with loud
cries insisted that they should seek for some harbour where they might
be repaired.

On this Vasco da Gama again swore by the life of the King, that from
that spot he would not turn back a span's breadth until they had
obtained the information they had come to seek. The sailors shouted
that they were many, and that they feared d