In a moment the vessel was a scene of bustle; the men swarmed up the rigging, urged to the greatest exertions not only by the voices of their officers but by the appearance of the heavens. The frigate behind held on three or four minutes [pg 115]longer, then her sheets were let fly, and immediately she was a scene of wild confusion.
“It will be on her before she is ready,” the captain said grimly, “and if it is, she will turn turtle. It is as much as we shall do to be ready.”
Just as a line of white foam was seen approaching with the speed of a race-horse, the last man reached the deck.
“I would give a great deal,” the captain said, “to have time to get down all our light spars. Get ready your small fore try-sail, and a small stay-sail to run up on the mizzen.”
A minute later the storm was upon them. A blinding sheet of spray, driven with almost the force of grape-shot, swept over the ship, followed by a deafening roar and a force of wind that seemed about to lift the ship bodily out of the water. Over and over she heeled, and all thought that she was about to founder, when, even above the noise of the storm, three loud crashes were heard, and the three masts, with all their lofty hamper, went over the side.
“Thank God,” the lieutenant exclaimed, “that has saved her!”
All hands with axes and knives began cutting away the wreckage. At the same time the two try-sails were hoisted, but they at once blew out of the bolt-ropes.
“Don’t you think, sir,” the first lieutenant shouted, “that if we lash a hawser to all this hamper, and hang to it, it will act as a floating anchor, and bring her head up to the wind?”
“Very well thought of, Mr. Farrance,” the captain shouted back; “by all means do so.”
The order was given and immediately carried out. The tangle of ropes and spars, with the ship’s strongest hawser [pg 116]attached, soon drifted past her, and as the cable tightened the vessel’s head began to come slowly up into the wind.