Itishardlypossibletoconceivetheextremityofmyterror。Thefumesofthewinelatelytakenhadevaporated，leavingmedoublytimidandirresolute。IknewthatIwasaltogetherincapableofmanagingtheboat，andthatafiercewindandstrongebbtidewerehurryingustodestruction。Astormwasevidentlygatheringbehindus；wehadneithercompassnorprovisions；anditwasclearthat，ifweheldourpresentcourse，weshouldbeoutofsightoflandbeforedaybreak。Thesethoughts，withacrowdofothersequallyfearful，flashedthroughmymindwithabewilderingrapidity，andforsomemomentsparalyzedmebeyondthepossibilityofmakinganyexertion。
Theboatwasgoingthroughthewaterataterriblerate-fullbeforethewind-noreefineitherjibormainsail-runningherbowscompletelyunderthefoam。Itwasathousandwondersshedidnotbroachto-Augustushavingletgothetiller，asIsaidbefore，andI
beingtoomuchagitatedtothinkoftakingitmyself。Bygoodluck，however，shekeptsteady，andgraduallyIrecoveredsomedegreeofpresenceofmind。Stillthewindwasincreasingfearfully，andwheneverwerosefromaplungeforward，theseabehindfellcombingoverourcounter，anddelugeduswithwater。Iwassoutterlybenumbed，too，ineverylimb，astobenearlyunconsciousofsensation。AtlengthIsummoneduptheresolutionofdespair，andrushingtothemainsailletitgobytherun。Asmighthavebeenexpected，itflewoverthebows，and，gettingdrenchedwithwater，carriedawaythemastshortoffbytheboard。Thislatteraccidentalonesavedmefrominstantdestruction。Underthejibonly，Inowboomedalongbeforethewind，shippingheavyseasoccasionallyoverthecounter，butrelievedfromtheterrorofimmediatedeath。Itookthehelm，andbreathedwithgreaterfreedomasIfoundthatthereyetremainedtousachanceofultimateescape。Augustusstilllaysenselessinthebottomoftheboat；andastherewasimminentdangerofhisdrowningthewaterbeingnearlyafootdeepjustwherehefell，Icontrivedtoraisehimpartiallyup，andkeephiminasittingposition，bypassingaroperoundhiswaist，andlashingittoaringboltinthedeckofthecuddy。HavingthusarrangedeverythingaswellasIcouldinmychilledandagitatedcondition，I
recommendedmyselftoGod，andmadeupmymindtobearwhatevermighthappenwithallthefortitudeinmypower。
HardlyhadIcometothisresolution，when，suddenly，aloudandlongscreamoryell，asiffromthethroatsofathousanddemons，seemedtopervadethewholeatmospherearoundandabovetheboat。