r worse condition. Some time was occupied in
clearing away the wreck of the topmasts, and once more getting the ship
into order. The gale, however, fearfully increased, and the frigate in
an almost helpless condition, having lost sight of her prize, was driven
towards the coast of Ireland. Happily, the yellow fever had completely
disappeared; but Captain Denham had another cause of anxiety, lest his
ship might be driven on that rocky shore on which so many a fine vessel
has been lost. He anxiously looked out, therefore, for signs of the
gale breaking, and that he might be able once more to make sail and beat
off shore. His hopes, however, seemed likely to prove vain. The
morning dawned, and far away to the east as the eye could stretch,
appeared the high land of the Irish coast. He had hoped to have hauled
up sufficiently to have weathered Cape Clear. The gale continued till
the frigate was close in with the coast. Shipwreck now seemed
inevitable, for no other sail could be set to enable her to beat off
shore. There was a bay to the south, but that would now afford no
shelter, and no other harbour was open to her. It seemed impossible
that she could be saved. One only resource remained, to anchor and cut
away the masts. Orders were, therefore, given to prepare for this last
alternative. The cables were ranged along the deck, and spare anchors
got up from below. The dark seas came rolling in with unabated force
from the west, while they broke with terrific force on the rocky shore
under her lee. The spray dashed over her bows, flying fore and aft as
she forced her way gallantly through the seas. The gale still continued
with unabated force. Masses of clouds came rushing by overhead, rapidly
succeeding each other, while under her lee-bow appeared a long reef of
rocks, the dangers of which were well-known to many on board. Still,
hopes were entertained that she might be able to weather it. The eyes
of the master and other officers, indeed of most on board, were turned
now seaward, now to the rocky shore, and now to the reef on the lee
beam. There seemed to all but little prospect, unless by a sudden
change of wind, of being able to weather the latter.

"She would not stay if we were to attempt to go about," observed the
first lieutenant, "and there is no room to wear, or it might be better
if we were upon the other tack, so as to escape yonder threatening
reef."

"We may possibly weather the reef," ob