The rain fell
at intervals in heavy showers, and we stood drenched through and
blinded by the flashes, which broke the Egyptian darkness with a
brightness which seemed almost malignant; while the thunder rolled in
peals, the concussion of which appeared to shake the very ocean. A
ship is not often injured by lightning, for the electricity is
separated by the great number of points she presents, and the quantity
of iron which she has scattered in various parts. The electric fluid
ran over our anchors, top-sail sheets and ties; yet no harm was done
to us. We went below at four o'clock, leaving things in the same
state. It is not easy to sleep, when the very next flash may tear the
ship in two, or set her on fire; or where the deathlike calm may be
broken by the blast of a hurricane, taking the masts out of the ship.
But a man is no sailor if he cannot sleep when he turns-in, and turn
out when he's called. And when, at seven bells, the customary "All the
larboard watch, ahoy!" brought us on deck, it was a fine, clear, sunny
morning, the ship going leisurely along, with a good breeze and all
sail set.
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