he made his stay as short as possible. He was not favorably
impressed with the Frauleins and fair-haired daughters of Holland, and
was now returning home in the "Great Mogul," a Dutch Indiaman bound to
Madras.

"Wreck on the lee bow!" shouted a look out from the mast-head. This
excited quite a commotion on deck, from whence the object was soon
discernable through the telescope, and soon after by the naked eye. The
ship's course was altered and she bore down upon the unfortunate craft
to render such assistance as might be necessary. She proved to be the
ship "Kaffir Chief," from Cork, bound to the Cape; she had been
dismasted in one of those terrific storms which so frequently occur in
these latitudes, and was now lying completely water-logged on the bosom
of the treacherous ocean. The day previous to the wreck had been
remarkably fine, but as night closed in the wind rose and continued to
increase until it blew a perfect hurricane. In spite of the utmost
exertions of the crew the sails were blown clear of the bolt ropes,
yards and spars were carried away, when the foremast went by the board
and the main topmast fell with a crash into the sea, seventeen of the
crew were hurled into the wild waste of waters. A little before daylight
a tremendous sea struck her stern, unshipping the rudder, carrying away
the wheel, round-house and lockers, rendering her unmanageable, and she
was tossed helplessly like a log upon the mighty billows. As the day
broke the storm somewhat subsided, a scene of wild desolation was
realized by those on board the unfortunate vessel, as the flashes of
broad sheet lightning, with which the heavy clouds were surcharged,
occasionally shot forth. The scene was startling and terrific, the wild
waves were breaking over her and three more of the crew were swept
overboard. As the light increased the sea began gradually to go down,
and spars and pieces of wreck were seen floating all around, lifted upon
the surging waves, to which some of the unfortunate seamen had clung
with the grasp of despair, only to be again thrown into the dark trough
of the sea to rise no more.

Although the hurricane had subsided, so much water had been shipped that
the pumps had to be kept continually going to prevent the hull from
going down: to this laborious task all had to exert themselves to the
utmost, and only by this means could the ship be kept afloat. The
self-styled Mrs. Grenville rendered good service in this hour of p