unately, there were no men aloft at the time the wind chopped so
suddenly, or they must have been swept overboard with the wreck of the
top-hamper, that was now grinding against the vessel's side to leeward
right under her quarter, and bumping with such force against her timbers
as to threaten to stove them in. Altogether, with the whistling of the
storm, that had risen up again as if imbued with fresh life, and the
roaring of the sea, and the horrible creaking and crashing of the broken
spars alongside, combined with the shouts of the men, who seemed lost
for the moment how to act, and running here and there, purposelessly,
without a guiding voice or hand to direct their efforts,--the scene was
a regular pandemonium of disorder!

If he had been reckless, however, Captain Blowser was a thorough seaman,
and knew how to command, and enforce his directions when the necessity
arose, as certainly was the case here.

Snatching a speaking-trumpet from the lanyard by which it was attached
to the mizzen mast, he issued an order which called at once the
scattered wits of the crew together, and set them about repairing the
damages that had arisen, and preventing the further perils that stared
them in the face; while the second mate at the same moment sprang to the
wheel, which was revolving as it liked, now to starboard now to port as
the waves met the rudder below, the poor helmsman who had previously
controlled its action lying senseless on the deck, whither he had been
thrown by the sudden concussion when the ship was taken aback.

"Down with the helm hard!" shouted the skipper, through the
speaking-trumpet, his voice penetrating every part of the ship, fore and
aft, above the roar of the elements and the noise on deck. "Clew up the
courses," was the next command; followed by an order to brace round the
yards. And the _Susan Jane_ eased a bit, running before the wind with
the aid of her main-topmast and topgallant sail, mizzen-staysail and
foresail, besides the remnants of her mainsail, that was split into
fluttering rags. All the rest of her canvas so recently set being
carried away, and floating alongside in a tangled wreck of spars and
sails and ropes and rigging, matted together in an inextricable mass,
Captain Blowser now gave orders to have cut away, without further delay,
as the men could be spared for the duty.

The first mate, one of the most active of men, had, the instant he
reached the deck, set to work to re