For a while they were able to beat out to sea until the mast was carried away.

Then the rudder broke, and, as the oars could not be worked in that fearful tempest, the galley began to drive shorewards.
Night fell, and who can describe the awful hours that followed?
All control of the vessel being lost, she drove onwards whither the wind and the waves took her.

The crew, and even the oar-slaves, flew to the wine with which she was partly laden, and strove to drown their terrors in drink.

Thus inflamed, twice some of them came to the cabin, threatening to throw their passengers overboard.

But Nehushta barred the door and called through it that she was well armed and would kill the first man who tried to lay a hand upon her.