Most of the vessels lying in the river were driven from their moorings, dashed tumultuously against each other, or blown ashore.

All was darkness, horror, confusion, ruin.

Men fled from their tottering habitations, and returned to them scared by greater dangers.

The end of the world seemed at hand.
At this time of universal havoc and despair,--when all London quaked at the voice of the storm,--the carpenter, who was exposed to its utmost fury, fared better than might have been anticipated.

The boat in which he rode was not overset.