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The Storm and their Danger increases.
while: But the Wind still increasing, about one a clock in the afternoon we put away right before Wind and Sea, continuing to run thus all the af- ternoon , and part of the night ensuing. The Wind continued, increasing all the afternoon, and the Sea still swelled higher, and often broke, but did us no damage ; for the ends of the Vessel be- ing very narrow, he that steered received and broke the Sea on his back, and so kept it from coming in so much as to endanger the Vessel: though much Water would come in, which we were forced to keep heaving out continually. And by this time we saw it was well that we had al- tered our course, every Wave would else have filled and sunk us, taking the side of the Vessel: And though our Outlagers were well lasht down to theCanoas bottom with Rattans, yet they must pro- bably have yielded to such a Sea as this; when even before, they were plunged under Water, and bent like twigs.
The evening of this 18th day was very dismal. The Sky looked very black, being covered with dark Clouds, the Wind blew hard, and the Seas ran high. The Sea was already roaring in a white fome about us ; a dark night coming on,and no Land in sight to shelter us, and our little Ark in danger to be swallowed by every Wave; and what was worst of all, none of us thought our selves prepared for another World. The Reader may better guess, than I can express, the confusi- on that we were all in. I had been in many eminent dangers before now, some of which I have already related, but the worst of them all was but a play-game, in comparison with this. I must confess that I was in great conflicts of Mind at this time. Other dangers came not up- on me with such a leisurely and dreadful solemni- ty: A sudden Skirmish or Engagement , or so, was