So, as twilight deepened, gladly and at the same time reluctantly, I brought the _Ghost_ up on the wind.
But I had not reckoned upon the colossal task the reefing of three sails meant for one man.

While running away from the wind I had not appreciated its force, but when we ceased to run I learned to my sorrow, and well-nigh to my despair, how fiercely it was really blowing.

The wind balked my every effort, ripping the canvas out of my hands and in an instant undoing what I had gained by ten minutes of severest struggle.
At eight o'clock I had succeeded only in putting the second reef into the foresail.

At eleven o'clock I was no farther along.

Blood dripped from every finger-end, while the nails were broken to the quick.