river, and are felt for many leagues at sea. They are usually preceded
by lightning. The captain told the mates to keep a bright lookout, and
if they saw lightning at the south-west, to take in sail at once. We
got the first touch of one during my watch on deck. I was walking in
the lee gangway, and thought that I saw lightning on the lee bow. I
told the second mate, who came over and looked out for some time. It
was very black in the south-west, and in about ten minutes we saw a
distinct flash. The wind, which had been south-east, had now left
us, and it was dead calm. We sprang aloft immediately and furled the
royals and top-gallant-sails, and took in the flying jib, hauled up
the mainsail and trysail, squared the after yards, and awaited the
attack. A huge mist capped with black clouds came driving towards
us, extending over that quarter of the horizon, and covering the
stars, which shone brightly in the other part of the heavens. It
came upon us at once with a blast, and a shower of hail and rain,
which almost took our breath from us. The hardiest was obliged to turn
his back. We let the halyards run, and fortunately were not taken
aback. The little vessel "paid off" from the wind, and ran for some
time directly before it, tearing through the water with everything
flying. Having called all hands, we closereefed the topsails and
trysail, furled the courses and jib, set the fore-topmast staysail,
and brought her up nearly to her course, with the weather braces
hauled in a little, to ease her.

  This was the first blow, that I had seen, which could really be
called a gale. We had reefed our topsails in the Gulf Stream, and I
thought it something serious, but an older sailor would have thought
nothing of it. As I had now become used to the vessel and to my
duty, I was of some service on a yard, and could knot my reef-point as
well as anybody. I obeyed the order to lay* aloft with the rest, and
found the reefing a very exciting scene; for one watch reefed the
fore-topsail, and the other the main, and every one did his utmost
to get his topsail hoisted first. We had a great advantage over the
larboard watch, because the chief mate never goes aloft, while our new
second mate used to jump into the rigging as soon as we began to
haul out the reef-tackle, and have the weather earing passed before
there was a man upon the yard. In this way we were almost always
able to raise the cry of "Haul out to leeward" before them, and having
knotted our points, would slide down the shrouds and back-stays, and
sing out at the topsail halyards to let it be known that we were ahead
of them. Reefing is the most exciting part of a sailor's duty. All
hands are engaged upon it, and after the halyards are let go, there is
no time to be lost- no "sogering," or hanging back, then. If one is
not quick enough, another runs over him. The first on the yard goes to
the weather earing, the second to the lee, and the next two to the
"dog's ears;" while the others lay along into the bunt, just giving
each other elbow-room. In reefing, the yard-arms (the extremes of
the yards) are the posts of honor; but in furling, the strongest and
most experienced stand in the slings, (or, middle of the yard,) to
make up the bunt. If the second mate is a smart fellow, he will
never let any one take either of these posts from him; but if he is
wanting either in seamanship, strength, or activity, some better man
will get the bunt and earings from him; which immediately brings him
into disrepute.

*This word "lay," which is in such general use on board ship, being
used in giving orders instead of "go;" as, "Lay forward!" "Lay aft!"
"Lay aloft!" etc., I do not understand to be the neuter verb lie,
mispronounced, but to be the active verb lay, with the objective
case understood; as, "Lay yourselves forward!" "Lay yourselves aft!"
etc.

  We remained for the rest of the night, and throughout the next
day, under the same close sail, for it continued to blow very fresh;
and though we had no more hail, yet there was a soaking rain, and it
was quite cold and uncomfortable; the more so because we were not
prepared for cold weather, but had on our thin clothes. We were glad
to get a watch below, and put on our thick clothing, boots, and
south-westers. Towards sundown the gale moderated a little and it
began to clear off in the south-west. We shook our reefs out, one by
one, and before midnight had top-gallant sails upon her.

  We had now made up our minds for Cape Horn and cold weather, and
entered upon every necessary preparation.

  Tuesday, Nov. 4th. At day-break saw land upon our larboard
quarter. There were two islands, of different size but of the same
shape; rather high, beginning low at the water's edge, and running
with a curved ascent to the middle. They were so far off as to be of a
deep blue color, and in a few hours we sank them in the northeast.
These were the Falkland Islands. We had run between them and the
main land of Patagonia. At sunset the second mate, who was at the
mast-head, said that he saw land on the starboard bow. This must
have been the island of Staten Land; and we were now in the region
of Cape Horn, with a fine breeze from the northward, top-mast and
top-gallant studding-sails set, and every prospect of a speedy and
pleasant passage round.

  CHAPTER V

  CAPE HORN--A VISIT

  Wednesday, Nov. 5th.- The weather was fine during the previous
night, and we had a clear view of the Magellan Clouds, and of the
Southern Cross. The Magellan Clouds consist of three small nebulae in
the southern part of the heavens,- two bright, like the milky-way, and
one dark. These are first seen, just above the horizon, soon after
crossing the southern tropic. When off Cape Horn, they are nearly over
head. The cross is composed of four stars in that form, and is said to
be the brightest constellation in the heavens.