ithstand this no longer, and as soon
as she again began to range to the sea he determined to make another
effort to get upon deck. In the first instance, however, he groped his
way in darkness from his own cabin through the berths of the officers,
where all was quietness. He next entered the galley and other
compartments occupied by the artificers. Here also all was shut up in
darkness, the fire having been drowned out in the early part of the
gale. Several of the artificers were employed in prayer, repeating
psalms and other devotional exercises in a full tone of voice; others
protesting that, if they should fortunately get once more on shore, no
one should ever see them afloat again. With the assistance of the
landing-master, the writer made his way, holding on step by step, among
the numerous impediments which lay in the way. Such was the creaking
noise of the bulkheads or partitions, the dashing of the water, and the
whistling noise of the winds, that it was hardly possible to break in
upon such a confusion of sounds. In one or two instances, anxious and
repeated inquiries were made by the artificers as to the state of things
upon deck, to which the captain made the usual answer, that it could not
blow long in this way, and that we must soon have better weather. The
next berth in succession, moving forward in the ship, was that allotted
for the seamen. Here the scene was considerably different. Having
reached the middle of this darksome berth without its inmates being
aware of any intrusion, the writer had the consolation of remarking
that, although they talked of bad weather and the cross accidents of the
sea, yet the conversation was carried on in that sort of tone and manner
which bespoke an ease and composure of mind highly creditable to them
and pleasing to him. The writer immediately accosted the seamen about
the state of the ship. To these inquiries they replied that the vessel
being light, and having but little hold of the water, no top-rigging,
with excellent ground-tackle, and everything being fresh and new, they
felt perfect confidence in their situation.

It being impossible to open any of the hatches in the fore part of the
ship in communicating with the deck, the watch was changed by passing
through the several berths to the companion-stair leading to the
quarter-deck. The writer, therefore, made the best of his way aft, and,
on a second attempt to look out, he succeeded, and saw indeed an
astonishing