lower a boat, and you can just fancy
how I felt when I saw the homeward-bound vessel standing away from us.
From the temperature of the weather I now suspected that we had got a
very long way to the south, when it came on to blow hard. The Dutchman
shortened sail, as he generally did when there was any wind, and
continued the course on which he was steering. The old ship, though a
tub, was a good sea boat, and I had no reason to fear danger, provided
she did not run her stem into an iceberg or strike any rocks or reefs.
Blow high, blow low, the skipper walked the deck with his hands in his
pockets and a huge meerschaum in his mouth, looking as composed as
usual?

"One night I was about turning in, when I felt the ship strike. Of
course I sprang on deck, where I was followed by the skipper and the
first mate, the second mate having the watch. The crew were singing out
that we were lost.

"`Do not be afraid, boys!' cried the skipper, calling for a light for
his pipe, and thrusting his hands into his pockets. `She'll drive over
it. Another hand to the helm. Keep all standing!'

"I knew, by the thickness of his voice, that he was half seas over, for
he never exhibited his state in any other way, except when he sank down
under the table. Still, I hoped from his composure that he knew where
we were, and that we should scrape clear of the sand-bank over which the
sea was breaking with fearful force. Several seas, indeed, nearly
pooped us; but we surged forward, touching occasionally in a way which
threatened to split the ship into fragments; but she held together
wonderfully. The men, however, had not the same hope that I had; for I
saw them gathering on either side, near the boats, taking the falls in
their hands, ready to lower them with or without orders.

"Rip came up to me. `What's going to happen, mynheer?' he asked.

"`The ship will probably go to the bottom or get knocked to pieces; but
we may perhaps escape the danger, and so at last reach Batavia,' I
answered. `Whatever happens, stick by me, Rip, and you can lend me a
hand whenever I want it, and I may perhaps save you.'

"Scarcely, however, had I spoken than the ship struck with far greater
force than before, the fore and main masts going by the board, but
falling clear of the deck. Still she went on; but the carpenter sounded
the well, and found that the water was rushing in at a rate which
precluded all possibility of keeping the ship afloat.