strongest wind that blows, which was that from the
south-west. Then by the aid of a lever and the capstan, he lowered into
the sloop the two cases containing the pieces of the paddle-wheel, the
slings of which were all ready. The two cases served as ballast.

Relieved of these encumbrances, he fastened to the hook of the chain of
the capstan the sling of the regulating tackle-gear, intending to check
the pulleys.

Owing to the peculiar objects of this labour, the defects of the old
sloop became useful qualities. It had no deck; her burden therefore
would have greater depth, and could rest upon the hold. Her mast was
very forward--too far forward indeed for general purposes; her contents
therefore would have more room, and the mast standing thus beyond the
mass of the wreck, there would be nothing to hinder its disembarkation.
It was a mere shell, or case for receiving it; but nothing is more
stable than this on the sea.

While engaged in these operations, Gilliatt suddenly perceived that the
sea was rising. He looked around to see from what quarter the wind was
coming.

VII

SUDDEN DANGER

The breeze was scarcely perceptible; but what there was came from the
west. A disagreeable habit of the winds during the equinoxes.

The rising sea varies much in its effects upon the Douvres rocks,
depending upon the quarter of the wind.

According to the gale which drives them before it, the waves enter the
rocky corridor either from the east or from the west. Entering from the
east, the sea is comparatively gentle; coming from the west, it is
always furious. The reason of this is, that the wind from the east
blowing from the land has not had time to gather force; while the
westerly winds, coming from the Atlantic, blow unchecked from a vast
ocean. Even a very slight breeze, if it comes from the west, is serious.
It rolls the huge billows from the illimitable space and dashes the
waves against the narrow defile in greater bulk than can find entrance
there.

A sea which rolls into a gulf is always terrible. It is the same with a
crowd of people: a multitude is a sort of fluid body. When the quantity
which can enter is less than the quantity endeavouring to force a way,
there is a fatal crush among the crowd, a fierce convulsion on the
water. As long as the west wind blows, however slight the breeze, the
Douvres are twice a day subjected to that rude assault. The sea rises,
the tide breasts up, the narrow gullet gi