d, and that I
were enjoying the wild scene from a distance.

"O Jerry, where are we going to?" I exclaimed, when we first met the
full swell of the Pacific.

"Going? why, to the west coast of South America, and to Robinson
Crusoe's Island, and to all sorts of wild places," he answered,
laughing. "We have rather a rough road before us, as you say; but never
mind, Harry, you'll soon get accustomed to it, and a little bumping is
good for the digestion, they say."

Jerry was right; in a very short time I was as much at home as any one
in a gale.

The puff we had got off the east coast of America showed me what a gale
was; but that was mere child's play to the storm now blowing. When I
thought anything was at its worst, when matters wore a most gloomy and
threatening aspect, I could not but admire the coolness and
self-possession of Captain Frankland and his officers. They seemed to
take it all as a matter of course, and walked the deck as composedly as
in a calm, only they had to hold on pretty tightly at times to the
weather-railings, when the ship, with a sudden jerk, was sent over to
port, and then back again almost as far on the other side. It was fine,
however, to see the tall figure of Captain Frankland, as he balanced
himself, leaning backward when the ship shot downwards into the trough
of the sea; and I soon gained confidence from the perfect composure he
exhibited. Very soon the wind came round more to the northward of west,
and the ship looked up rather nearer to her course round the Cape. Our
satisfaction, however, was soon destroyed by the redoubled fury with
which the gale came down on us. The captain beckoned Mr Renshaw and
Mr Brand to come to him. They stood in earnest conversation on the
quarter-deck. Darkness was coming on--I could just see their figures
grouped together. With startling energy Mr Renshaw had just given the
order to furl the fore and mizzentop-sail, to heave the ship to, when
there was a loud crash.

"Down! down for your lives!" shouted the captain. The main-topmast had
been carried away. Masts, and yards, and blocks, and rigging, came
hurtling down on deck in one mass of ruin, injuring two or three of our
men, and knocking one poor fellow overboard. In vain an attempt was
made to save him. To lower a boat would have been madness. His
death-shriek sounded in our ears as he dropped astern, and soon sunk
beneath the dark, troubled waters. We had little time to think of