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Article PENCILLINGS FBOM THE SKETCH-BOOK OF A MA... ← Page 8 of 13 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Pencillings Fbom The Sketch-Book Of A Ma...
stinctive expectation of food , but that they desired to show their agility , and try speed with the ship : then , springing up as if to bid us adieu , and turning a summersault in the air , they would quit us , and pursue another course . Hereabouts , too , we caught sight of a whale . Hitherto we had been most fortunate in our run from Old England , but we were doomed shortly to experience the reverse . Having
passed the Cape in sight of Table Mountain on the 21 st of January , we found ourselves in a very heavy swell , off Cape Lagullas ;
grampuses and stormy petrels , with Cape pigeons , were to be seen in numbers . Of the last-named bird we caught several : they are beautiful and plump to look at , but on being brought on board , the skin is ascertained to be full of vermin , the smell unpleasant , and
they immediately become sea-sick . On the 28 th of the month the swell had subsided into so perfect a calm , that a few of us put to sea in the ship's cutter , and rowed about for a considerable distance , enjoying at leisure the placid scene of ocean , bounded by the horizon , without a ripple on its surface .
The sun ' s perpendicular rays Illumined the depths of the sea . " The heat was positively oppressive , and the vessel , with her sails
unbent , seemed as if dreamily reposing after a weary voyage . While thus ruminating , a somewhat awkward kick from the feet of one of our party in the boat , knocked away the cork plug . Wondering to see the water making fast , we commenced baling it out , when the cause was discovered , the plug replaced , and we got safe on board .
After a calm comes a storm . This adage was verified in our case , for at mid-day , on the 30 th of January , the sea rose , and it being what the sailors term a cross swell , hourly grew heavier . The dead lights were forthwith let down , rendering the lower stern cabins totally dark , and by the evening a very strong gale set in , which , together with the waves running " mountains high / ' became at night a terrific hurricane , threatening us with loss of masts and rudder , if not
total destruction . " Nor sail nor shore appear ed in sight , Naught but the heavy sea , and coming night . " Happily , however , we were far away from any land , and had sufficient sea-room to weather what was in store for us About midnight , while the wind howled in our ears , the foretopsail split , and being
rent in pieces by a fitful gust , blew away as if it were but a remnant of old linen . JSfo more canvass could now be spread than sufficient to keep the ship steady . Soon , the upper stern windows were stove in by the violence of the waves . Before daylight the
weather became worse , and away flow the forecourse , the wind veering round to every point of the compass . "When the morning did arrive , though welcome , it but disclosed to us the stupendous power of an agitated mass of waters , and gave us an opportunity of witnessing the valuable metal of which the English Ksailor is composed , VOL . II . 4 s
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Pencillings Fbom The Sketch-Book Of A Ma...
stinctive expectation of food , but that they desired to show their agility , and try speed with the ship : then , springing up as if to bid us adieu , and turning a summersault in the air , they would quit us , and pursue another course . Hereabouts , too , we caught sight of a whale . Hitherto we had been most fortunate in our run from Old England , but we were doomed shortly to experience the reverse . Having
passed the Cape in sight of Table Mountain on the 21 st of January , we found ourselves in a very heavy swell , off Cape Lagullas ;
grampuses and stormy petrels , with Cape pigeons , were to be seen in numbers . Of the last-named bird we caught several : they are beautiful and plump to look at , but on being brought on board , the skin is ascertained to be full of vermin , the smell unpleasant , and
they immediately become sea-sick . On the 28 th of the month the swell had subsided into so perfect a calm , that a few of us put to sea in the ship's cutter , and rowed about for a considerable distance , enjoying at leisure the placid scene of ocean , bounded by the horizon , without a ripple on its surface .
The sun ' s perpendicular rays Illumined the depths of the sea . " The heat was positively oppressive , and the vessel , with her sails
unbent , seemed as if dreamily reposing after a weary voyage . While thus ruminating , a somewhat awkward kick from the feet of one of our party in the boat , knocked away the cork plug . Wondering to see the water making fast , we commenced baling it out , when the cause was discovered , the plug replaced , and we got safe on board .
After a calm comes a storm . This adage was verified in our case , for at mid-day , on the 30 th of January , the sea rose , and it being what the sailors term a cross swell , hourly grew heavier . The dead lights were forthwith let down , rendering the lower stern cabins totally dark , and by the evening a very strong gale set in , which , together with the waves running " mountains high / ' became at night a terrific hurricane , threatening us with loss of masts and rudder , if not
total destruction . " Nor sail nor shore appear ed in sight , Naught but the heavy sea , and coming night . " Happily , however , we were far away from any land , and had sufficient sea-room to weather what was in store for us About midnight , while the wind howled in our ears , the foretopsail split , and being
rent in pieces by a fitful gust , blew away as if it were but a remnant of old linen . JSfo more canvass could now be spread than sufficient to keep the ship steady . Soon , the upper stern windows were stove in by the violence of the waves . Before daylight the
weather became worse , and away flow the forecourse , the wind veering round to every point of the compass . "When the morning did arrive , though welcome , it but disclosed to us the stupendous power of an agitated mass of waters , and gave us an opportunity of witnessing the valuable metal of which the English Ksailor is composed , VOL . II . 4 s