About midnight of the 2nd of March the caravel was struck by a squall, which rent all her sails and threatened instant destruction.

The crew were again reduced to despair, and made vows of fasting and pilgrimages.
The storm raged through the succeeding day, during which, from various signs they considered that land must be near.

The turbulence of the following night was dreadful; the sea was broken, wild, and mountainous, the rain fell in torrents, and the lightning flashed and the thunder pealed from various parts of the heavens.
In the first watch of this fearful night, the seamen gave the usual welcome cry of land--but it only increased their alarm, for they dreaded being driven on shore or dashed upon the rocks.

Taking in sail, therefore, they endeavoured to keep to sea as much as possible.

At day-break on the 4th of March they found themselves off the rock of Cintra at the mouth of the Tagus, which you know is the principal river of Portugal.
Though distrustful of the Portuguese, he had no alternative but to run in for shelter.