as brought to the wind to meet the
expected blast. Had she had sea room she might have scudded, but, with
the land under her lee, that was out of the question. As a brave man
girds himself for an inevitable and deadly contest, so was the gallant
ship prepared for the desperate conflict with the elements.

The British crew had not prepared unnecessarily to meet the gale,
although delayed; down it came at length upon them with even greater
fury than was expected. More than once it seemed as if the masts and
rigging would give way, and that the frigate would be driven helplessly
before its fury. Had a sail gone, had a rope given way, she might have
been hurried to destruction; but careful hands had secured the rigging,
every rope held, and there she lay nobly breasting the storm. Still she
drifted to the eastward, and, should the gale continue long, she after
all could not escape destruction.

As the morning approached, the wind blew harder and harder. Daylight
exhibited no sign of its abating. All that day it continued, its fury
in no way decreased. The weary crew began to faint with their
exertions, but the officers went among them, and with cheering words
reanimated their spirits. The carpenter had often sounded the well. He
now reported that the ship had sprang a leak; the pumps must be manned;
the demand on the energies of the crew was increased. Still they worked
cheerfully. Even some of the wounded insisted on coming up to take
their spell at the pumps.

Night again came on, but not for a moment during the whole course of it
did Captain Courtney leave the deck. Often and often did he look out
astern. He had good reason for so doing. The order was given to range
the cables. It might be necessary to anchor, to make, at all events,
the attempt to bring up the ship before she was driven on the enemy's
shores.

The morning returned at last, and away to the leeward, amid the thick
driving spray, and through the pale cold cheerless light, a line of
coast rose above the tumbling waters. Calm, as if no storm was raging,
Captain Courtney walked the deck, his eye now turned astern--now at the
rigging of his ship. He sent Mr Trenane forward to see that the
anchors were ready for letting go. The lieutenant reported all ready.

"Then we have done all that men can do to save the ship, and to
Providence we must trust the rest," observed the captain.

Few words were exchanged by any on board, the crew were a