e weather, and with the wind as it was, we were likely to
make a quicker passage by going on to the southward, and passing round
the Horn. I was of the same opinion, by no means liking the intricacies
of the navigation of the Straits, or the violent tides which our sailing
directions told us swept through them.

We accordingly filled away again, carrying on, notwithstanding the still
freshening breeze, until the little _Water Lily_ seemed alternately to
threaten diving to the bottom with us or taking flight altogether into
the air. We were nearly blinded by the copious showers of spray which
flew over us, and our mainsail was wet to its very peak; yet it was a
real pleasure to see the ease and lightness with which the boat skimmed
over the now formidable and angry sea.

About four bells in the morning watch, we passed within three miles of
the easternmost end of Staten Island. An hour later, the breeze
freshened upon us so fiercely that we saw it would be dangerous to
trifle with it any longer; so we hauled down our mainsail and stowed it;
and bent and set the trysail in its place, single-reefed. This change
proved a very great relief to the little craft, the sway and leverage of
the heavy main-boom having made her plunge tremendously; whereas, now,
she went along without shipping a drop of water beyond the spray which
she of course still continued to throw over herself.

It was whilst we were busy shifting our after canvas that the little
_Lily_ experienced perhaps one of the most narrow escapes of the whole
voyage. We were too much occupied with our work to keep a very bright
look-out; indeed, we considered that, beyond the state of the weather,
there was nothing to demand our attention.

We had just completed the bending of the trysail, when away to windward
of us, not more than a quarter of a mile distant, we observed a large
ship running down directly upon us before the wind, under topgallant
stunsails.

The _Lily_ was almost stationary at the time; and the ship was heading
as straight as she possibly could for us. How the trysail went up, it
is impossible for me to say; we pulled like demons, and it seemed to
rise instantaneously into its place, fully set. I sprang aft, and put
the helm hard up, to gather way; and we had just begun to draw through
the water, when the ship took a sheer as though to cross our bows. I
kept the tiller jammed hard over, and eased away the trysail sheet,
intending to wear,