This was not only on account of the heavy lurches the vessel gave from port to starboard and then back again to port; but, the planks were wet and slippery, and besides, as she plunged and pitched, head to sea, great green, rolling waves would break on the forecastle and pour down into the waist, rushing aft like a river and sweeping anyone off his legs who was caught unprepared.
The wind itself was blowing so strongly that I couldn’t stand upright, having to shelter myself under the lee of the bulwarks when I was on the poop.
But, this was nothing to what came later, old Boreas then putting a fresh hand to his bellows.
Hardly had the guns been properly secured and everything made snug and fast below and aloft, when the gale recommenced with tenfold violence; constant squalls bursting over the ship, accompanied by showers of hail that pattered on the planks like rifle bullets and took the skin off any fellow’s face that was exposed to it without protection.
It made mine smart, I know!
In the midst of one of these sharp squalls, the maintopsail was blown to pieces with a report that sounded as if a gun had been fired off close to my ear; and, at the same moment, there was a loud crack heard from the top as if something had given way in addition to the sail.
Nothing, though, could be done about this for the moment, more pressing business being on hand; for, in consequence of the topsail giving, the ship’s head payed off and getting into the hollow of the sea she precious nearly rolled her masts out her in less time than one could count.
“Down with that fore staysail,” shouted the commander through his speaking trumpet. “Look alive man and set the topsail at once!”
His voice could not be distinguished beyond the length of the trumpet he roared through; but the boatswain’s mates passed on the order from hand to hand until it reached the first lieutenant and the master, both of whom were stationed forwards, where it was instantly acted on and the ship’s head brought back to the wind.
After this the storm staysail was rehoisted and we lay-to again in comparative safety.