It struck with the full force of a tropic hurricane.

The boat rocked, the wind blew, and billows swept the deck.

At the height of the tempest Beulah Baxter sprang from the cabin to the deck, clutching wildly at a stanchion.

Buffeted by the billows she groped a painful way along the side, at risk of being swept off to her death.
She was followed by one of the crew who held a murderous knife in his hand, then by the other sailor who also held a knife.

They, too, were swept by the billows, but seemed grimly determined upon the death of the heroine.