For it was now blowing harder than ever, the sea was breaking with absolutely appalling fury on the reef--speaking eloquently of the fate that awaited us all in the event of failure--and the over-driven ship, so heavily pressed down by her canvas that the lee-side of her quarter-deck and waist was all afloat, groaned and complained in every timber as she literally fought her way through the opposing seas, smothering herself forward so completely at every mad plunge that those who were standing by to let go the anchor had been compelled to lash themselves firmly at their posts to avoid being washed overboard.
