Between
five and six- the sun was then nearly three hours high- the cry of
"All starbowlines ahoy!" summoned our watch on deck; and immediately
all hands were called. A true specimen of Cape Horn was coming upon
us. A great cloud of a dark slate color was driving on us from the
south-west; and we did our best to take in sail ( for the light
sails had been set during the first part of the day) before we were in
the midst of it. We had got the light sails furled, the courses hauled
up, and the topsail reef-tackles hauled out, and were just mounting
the fore-rigging, when the storm struck us. In an instant the sea,
which had been comparatively quiet, was running higher and higher; and
it became almost as dark as night. The hail and sleet were harder than
I had yet felt them; seeming almost to pin us down to the rigging.
We were longer taking in sail than ever before; for the sails were
stiff and wet, the ropes and rigging covered with snow and sleet,
and we ourselves cold and nearly blinded with the violence of the
storm. By the time we had got down upon deck again, the little brig
was plunging madly into a tremendous head sea, which at every drive
rushed in through the bow-ports and over the bows, and buried all
the forward part of the vessel.
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