Here it comes at last, Harry; stand by the
tiller." I looked, and away astern, right and left, far as the eye
could reach, was a rapidly advancing and widening streak of white foam.
On it came, outstripping in speed the fastest express train, the sea in
front of it inky black, whilst behind it was all as white as milk. I
sat down on deck, bracing my feet against the companion, and desired Bob
to do the same; and it was well we did so, or I verily believe we should
have been blown overboard.

The hurricane struck us fairly astern, and I fully expected to see the
mast go clean out of the cutter, whilst the foam boiled up over the
taffrail and surged inboard, filling our decks, and piling over us in a
truly alarming manner. However, our rigging was all first-rate, and
stood the tremendous strain bravely; and, the laws of nature asserting
their supremacy even in this wild scene, the little _Lily_ rose and
shook herself clear of the water which had swept in over her, and then
away she flew, at a perfectly frightful speed, dead before it.

Had she been of the usual model, her bows would have been forced under
by the enormous pressure of the wind behind, and she would have gone
down head foremost; but, sharp as were her water-lines, her bows curved
boldly out above water, and thus afforded her a support forward, which
now proved her salvation.

The first fierceness of the gust lasted perhaps five minutes, possibly
not so much, but it is difficult to measure time on such occasions as
these, and then we got the strength of the gale proper. I thought it
blew pretty hard off Cape Horn, but it was a trifle compared with this.

The sea remained perfectly smooth, for the simple reason that it _could
not_ get up. The tops of the surges, as they rose, were taken by the
wind and swept off as neatly as you would cut a flower from its stalk
with a riding-switch and the air was filled completely with this scud-
water, rendering it so thick that it was impossible to see a cable's
length ahead.

As all immediate danger was for the present over, I now desired Bob to
push back the companion slide, leaving the doors still closed however,
and go below and get a mouthful of something to eat, as I did not know
what call might yet be made upon our energies; and it was desirable that
we should not allow ourselves to become exhausted from want of food.

As soon as he had snatched a hasty meal, he relieved me, and I went
below in my turn, w