"Processions of priests and religiosi have been for several days past praying for rain;" so runs the last entry in Williams's diary; "but the gods are either angry or nature too powerful." Trelawny's Genoese mate observed, as the "Don Juan" stood out to sea, that they ought to have started at three a.m.
instead of twelve hours later; adding "the devil is brewing mischief." Then a sea-fog withdrew the "Don Juan" from their sight.

It was an oppressively sultry afternoon.

Trelawny went down into his cabin, and slept; but was soon roused by the noise of the ships' crews in the harbour making all ready for a gale.

In a short time the tempest was upon them, with wind, rain, and thunder.

It did not last more than twenty minutes; and at its end Trelawny looked out anxiously for Shelley's boat.