been swaying to and fro, not
only endangering the lives of those on board, but obstructing every
attempt to get the vessel into any kind of working order. The main-sail
had rent from the leash to the peak of the gaff, and was shaking into
shreds. The starboard sheet of the maintop-sail was gone, and it had
torn at the head from the bolt-rope, flying at every gust like the
shreds of a muslin rag in a hail-storm. Without the government of her
helm, she lay in the trough of the sea more like a log than a manageable
mass. Sea after sea broke over her, carrying every thing before them
at each pass. The officers and crew had now as much as they could do to
retain their holds, without making any effort to save the wreck, while
the men at the pumps could only work at each subsiding of the sea,
and that under the disadvantage of being lashed to the frame. A more
perilous position than that in which the old brig Janson now lay, it was
impossible to imagine.

"'Tis the worst hurricane I've ever experienced upon the West India
coast, Captain, but it's too furious to last long; and if she don't
go to pieces before morning, I'll give her credit for what I've always
swore against her. She can't keep afloat though, if it hangs on another
hour in this way," said the mate, who, with the Captain and Manuel, had
just made an ineffectual attempt to rig a storm stay-sail, to try
and lay her to under it. For the mate swore by his knowledge of her
qualities, that to put her before it, would be certain foundering. The
gale continued with unabated fury for about two hours, and stopped about
as suddenly as it commenced. The work of destruction was complete, for
from her water-line to the stump of the remaining spars, the Janson
floated a complete wreck.

The captain gave orders to clear away the wreck, and get what little
sail they could patch up, upon her, for the purpose of working her
into the nearest port. The mate was not inclined to further the order,
evidently laboring under the strong presentiment that she was to be
their coffin. He advised that it was fruitless to stick by her any
longer, or hazard an attempt to reach a port with her, in such a leaky
and disabled condition. "If we don't abandon her, Skipper," said he,
"she'll abandon us. We'd better make signal for the first vessel, and
bid the old coffin good-by."

The captain was more determined in his resolution, and instead of being
influenced by the mate's fears, continued his or