shipped
those forcing cross seas which drive every thing before them, and sweep
the decks. At length a piece of canvas was lashed to the fore-rigging
which gave her a balance, and she rode easy until about five o'clock in
the morning, when by a sudden broach the canvas was carried away, and a
tremendous sharp sea boarded her forward; starting several stanchions,
carrying away part of her starboard bulwark and rail, and simultaneously
the foretop-gallant-mast, which snapped just above the withe. As a
natural consequence, every thing was in the utmost confusion--the old
hull worked in every timber. The wreck swayed to and fro, retarding the
working of the vessel and endangering the lives of those who attempted
to clear it from obstruction. Thus she remained for more than half an
hour, nearly on her beam-ends, and at the mercy of each succeeding sea
that threatened to engulf her.

As daylight broke, the wind lulled, and, as usual in those waters,
the sea soon ran down. Enabled to take the advantage of daylight,
they commenced to clear away the wreck. In the mean time it was found
necessary to remove the fore-hatch in order to get out some spare sails
that had been stowed away near the forward bulkhead, instead of a more
appropriate place. The mate, after trying the pumps in the early part of
the gale, reported that she had started a leak; which, however, was so
trifling as to require but one man to keep her free, until she broached,
and carried away her topgallant-mast. The man on duty then reported
the water increasing, and another was ordered to assist him. On an
examination in the morning, it was found that she was strained in the
fore-channels, and had started a but.

"She's an unlucky concern, skipper," said the mate as he brought the axe
to take the battons off the forehatch. "A fellow might as well try to
work a crab at low tide as to keep her to it in a blow like that. She
minds her helm like a porpoise in the breakers. Old Davy must have put
his mark upon her some time, but I never know'd a lucky vessel to be got
as she was. She makes a haul on the underwriters every time she drifts
across; for I never knew her to sail clear since I shipped in the old
tub. If she was mine, I'd find a place for her at somebody's expense."

The sea became smooth, the water was found to have receded, the wind,
light, had hauled to W.S.W., and Cape Antoine was judged by dead
reckoning to bear S.S.W. about thirty miles distant. The l