156 THE BOV CAPTAIN.

was torn completely out of the davits and flung over the
port rail like an egg-shell, and huge walls of water, rent
and torn by the wind, enveloped the scene with an im-
penetrable veil, so that fully one-half of the time it was
impossible for the captain on the quarter-deck to see as
far forward as the galley.

To hold a conversation was out of the question, and,
although standing close beside the captain, Mr. Bean
vainly endeavoured to make his words heard.

Fortunately, there were no orders to be given. There
was nothing that could be done, and, helpless, no matter
what might happen, the young captain watched this bat-
tle of the elements, realising, more forcibly than ever be-
fore, how feeble is the strength of man when arrayed
against the forces of nature.

During another hour, the brig laboured manfully to bear
her crew on in safety, tossed like a cork upon the waters
and shaking off the weight which threatened to carry her
to the bottom, as she rose gallantly after each blow to
meet the enemy. Then the wind ceased, suddenly, dur-
ing a space of time while one might have counted five,
and, with a yet more furious gust than before, it literally
pressed the little craft beneath the waves.

At the same instant, there was a dull sound .as of the
rending of wood-work, reports like the discharge of
cannon as the stays parted, and then the maintopgallant-
mast was swept away like a straw, the foretopgallant-
mast and jib-boom following almost as quickly as one can
tell of the disaster.