Before I could free the vessel, however, the wind veered completely round, and, to my horror and despair, sent a veritable mountain of water on board, that carried away nearly all the bulwarks, the galley, the top of the companion-way, and, worst of all, completely wrenched off the wheel.

Compasses and charts were all stored in the companion-way, and were therefore lost for ever.

Then, indeed, I felt the end was near.

Fortunately, I was for'ard at the time, or I must inevitably have been swept into the appalling waste of whirling, mountainous waters.

This lashing of myself to the mast, by the way, was the means of saving my life time after time.