Our vessel rolled heavily to leeward, and strained considerably, her bulkheads groaning and her seams opening, making it necessary to keep one of the pumps in constant operation.

As soon as it was daylight I went on deck, anxious to witness a spectacle I had often heard described A GALE OF WIND AT SEA and it wonder and admiration.

The wind, blowing furiously, whistled wildly among the rigging; the waves of alarming size and threatening appearance, came rushing in swift succession towards us, as if eager to overwhelm our puny bark, which nevertheless floated unharmed, now riding on the crest of a wave, and anon plunging into a deep and angry-looking gulf, taking no water on deck, excepting from an occasional spray.
I asked one of the sailors who had just taken a spell at the pump, if this were not a hurricane.
"Hurricane!" said he, with a good-natured grin.

"Nonsense! This is only a stiff breeze.

'Tis as different from a hurricane as a heaver is from a handspike.