Just before eight o'clock (then about sundown,
in that latitude) the cry of "All hands ahoy!" was sounded down the
fore scuttle and the after hatchway, and hurrying upon deck, we
found a large black cloud rolling on toward us from the south-west,
and blackening the whole heavens. "Here comes Cape Horn!" said the
chief mate; and we had hardly time to haul down and clew up, before it
was upon us. In a few moments, a heavier sea was raised than I had
ever seen before, and as it was directly ahead, the little brig, which
was no better than a bathing machine, plunged into it, and all the
forward part of her was under water; the sea pouring in through the
bow-ports and hawse-hole and over the knightheads, threatening to wash
everything overboard. In the lee scuppers it was up to a man's
waist. We sprang aloft and double reefed the topsails, and furled
all the other sails, and made all snug. But this would not do; the
brig was laboring and straining against the head sea, and the gale was
growing worse and worse. At the same time sleet and hail were
driving with all fury against us. We clewed down, and hauled out the
reef-tackles again, and close-reefed the fore-topsail, and furled
the main, and hove her to on the starboard tack.
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