Apprehending no danger from the "god of day," their thoughts never once pointed to him; and they could see no cause for the cry. Turning their eyes to the doctor, they saw him laughing, and immediately suspected they had been gulled. He pointed upward, and instantly comprehending the ruse, they enjoyed a hearty laugh.

They were now approaching the most dangerous part of the voyage, and did not pass the ordeal unscathed. In a few days they were near where the Amazon empties into the sea; and such a vast volume of water rushing towards them in one direction, and the winds in a contrary, the vessel was often very violently agitated. It was thought they were in considerable danger; but it was slight compared with what they soon experienced from the most terriffic storm they encountered. The clouds began looming in the west, the breeze to whistle more shrilly; and the passengers, who on these occasions are more than usually alert, observed the officers interchanging looks of meaning, and issuing orders in low tones of stern decision; and that the men went to their duty with more than ordinary readiness and alacrity, with few words, as though much were depending upon their movements. Mr. Beers sidled coaxingly along to the captain, and modestly enquired, "Capt. Barker, is there danger?" With a shrug of impatience he replied, "Danger, danger-no!" with a significant motion, which the interrogator interpreted as a wish for him to go; for he immediately went below, and began diligently studying the sacred promises. The ladies stealthily repaired to the cabin, and no one was left on deck save a few courageous spirits, who delighted to witness the conflict between old ocean and the storm. The hatchways were closed, and orders given for reefing the sails. With an apprehensive glance at the already black

horizon, the men sprang aloft, and one after another of the clouds of canvass disappeared from the masts, and, with a single exception, they were scudding under bare poles. Even this one sail seemed almost too much for the vessel to bear, for the stick bent like a whip, and creaked and groaned under the pressure. The tempest burst upon them. The ship, like a living thing, crouched, shivering, in a trough of the sea; and then, on a rising wave, bounded forward, like a maddened steed, striving to rid itself of its tormentors. On she plunged, but the storm was around her; she was wrapped as with toils. The heavy waves dashed against her oaken sides; spray and foam enveloped her as a thick cloud, and the winds croaked and moaned through the rigging with sounds which absolutely resembled howls of rage. The lightnings coiled and darted from time to time through the angry skies; and the thunder roared and muttered threateningly in the distance. To render the already frightful scene more dismal, torrents of rain began pouring from the murky clouds, and night to envelope them in its dark folds. With the little ones nestling to their bosoms, and looking wistfully to them for protection, the females cowered tremblingly in the cabin. Even the stout hearts of their male companions sometimes quaked,as they listened to the crashing of timber broken loose from its fastenings on deck, the hauling of ropes, the quick tread of the men, and the rattling of furniture and crockery as the ship rolled from side to side. It was a night of terror. The latter part the winds wailed loud and wild, the firmament was sheeted with lightning, and the thunder rolled, it seemed, in one continued deafening peal. The white wing of the lonely gull occasionally flitted across their vision, as if to show them, that, amid a storm where they, poor mortals, were tossed, helpless, at the

mercy of wind and wave, he was riding, fearless, at home. Ah, how they envied the cheerful bird, as he floated to and fro on the tempest! The hours passed wearily on till morning. As the light of day spread over the heavens, the storm abated; their hearts lightened, and although languid and fatigued by the excitement and watchfulness of the night, they began to converse more cheerily, and hope that present peril was past. The gale had been unusually violent, and as unusually brief. Six and seven bells struck, and with keen appetites they awaited the summons to breakfast. At nine o'clock they seated themselves, and from the motion of the ship, were making low conges to their neighbors across the board, when their longing looks were greeted by the unexpected luxury of a broiled ham. Two or three hams had been brought from Boston, and this was one of the last. They sat a few moments, anxiously awaiting a signal to begin the repast, when a sudden lurch of the vessel caused them to cling to their seats, and the chairs to step a cotillon, which exercise they continued till they danced the length of the cabin and back. Another lunge, and, to their consternation, the meat dish took an impulsive plunge in the same direction, and after sundry girations, landed unbroken on the deck, the meat of course undermost. This disaster entirely destroyed their desire for eating; notwithstanding, with much dexterity, the steward caught up the unfortunate platter, and with a greasy napkin, produced from a pocket of his unmentionables, rubbed it over, and in a few moments, with its former contents placed invitingly before them, awaiting their pleasure, as quietly as though nothing had happened to disturb their equilibrium.

CHAPTER III.

Falkland Isles-Seals, &c.--Albatross-Cape Horn--AtmosphereMan overboard-Miss Johnson's efforts for his conversion-Juan Fernandes-Burial of the cook-Whales-Loss of the ship Essex.

As they proceeded farther southward, the swell of the sea was very much greater, the waves higher, and the troughs were deeper; and for several days before they reached the Cape, they were made aware of its vicinity by this marked change, which, when within two days' sail of it, was really frightful. The wind wafted them strongly and steadily onward; but the scene became more and more dismal, till they approached the Falkland Islands. Here it was much calmer and clearer, and they had a fine view of the isles, the coast of which differed from any other they had ever seen. There were rocks, seeming to rise perpendicular from the sea, to the height of several hundred feet, entirely barren, excepting where, in their clefts, a thin soil afforded a place for various sorts of ever-greens to fasten their roots. It seemed singular that, with so small sustenance, even this hardy species could flourish as it did, from the height of three to twenty feet, presenting to the eye a pleasant picture, where the green branches rested on the face of the rugged rock, or in dark relief against the sky.

Formerly, here had been extensive fisheries, of various kinds, producing immense revenues to those engaged in them. Several sorts of seals, called the sea horse, sea lion, &c., were also found in great abundance.

Large flocks of birds, among which were the gull, and

albatross, frequented the coast, leaving quantities of their eggs, and were often found on their nests with their young, where they appeared as tame as domestic fowls, until an attempt was made to drive them from thence, when they would fight with fierceness as long as life remained. Here they saw the albatross, the largest of the water fowl, and, excepting the condor, the largest bird that flies, measuring from tip to tip of the extended wings, from twelve to fifteen feet; and the captain assured them he had seen an instance of one seventeen feet,

As they approached Cape Horn the wind blew more strongly from the north-west, directly in their faces, driving them several days out of their course.

The farther south they sailed, the more unpleasant grew the atmosphere; so humid and piercing, that, clothing themselves as thickly as possible, and retiring to their births, it was still very chilling and uncomfortable. The utmost endeavors were made to kindle fires, but the dampness frustrated such efforts, and the only effect was filling the cabin with smoke. For nineteen days they were in this forlorn, uncomfortable situation, when the shifting of the winds in their favor, enabled them to regain their lost ground, and double the Cape.

A thrilling occurrence took place as they were rounding the most southern point. A man was sent aloft on Sabbath morning, and in a few moments, "a man overboard!" rang through the ship. This was the first occurrence of the kind that had happened, and the possibility of it had scarcely entered their thoughts. That one should be taken from among them in so sudden and fearful a manner, almost paralysed the little community. With pallid faces they crowded to the stern, and each did his best to assist the unfortu