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thing left for him to do—hove his ship to on the starboard tack. The wind at this time blew with such fury, that canvass, however small, exposed to its force, was instantly blown into ribbons and torn from the ropes. Gust after gust followed with increased violence, and the wind remaining nearly stationary, and the barometer falling rapidly, told the dreadful story that the centre was approaching.
Lightning descending in vertical columns (of what Capt. Quayle describes as vivid green) added horror to the scene; and it is only necessary to hear Mrs. Quayle (who, with her children, was on board at the time) tell the story of her troubles and anxiety during that fearful night, in order to appreciate more fully the necessity for avoiding the centre of these violent gales; a thing which may be generally accomplished with safety, if the mariner is conversant with the Law of Storms.
There are a few exeptional cases, in which there is no escape; and the “Francis Henty” furnishes an instance. She was practically land-locked to leeward, the land being shut out from sight by a black cloud in which the “Francis Henty” herself was enveloped, and uncertain of her position, to attempt to run through one of the narrow passages between the Islands would have involved the ship and crew in great danger by grounding on some of the Islands or rocks in their vicinity. So of two evils the captain chose the least; and preparing his ship by passing extra gaskets on the sails, lashing the spars and other things liable to get adrift, making hatches and sky lights more secure, getting relieving and other tackles ready for instant use &c., &c., he adopted the proper course by heaving-to on the starboard tack, being in the right hand semicircle, and awaited the passing of the centre. This, in due time, took place. When near the centre, the ship was thrown on her beam ends with the yard-arms in the water and was so kept, by the fury of the wind pressing her down, until the centre reached her, when she righted in the calm that followed. She was, however, not more safe there, than when exposed to the
