Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/513

 coasts oF AUSm'lmAUA. 449 as possible, in oder to weather the reef ou . which the sea was breaking, withiu five yards D-. � to leeward of the vessel: our eape appeared to be next to impossible: the night was of a pitchy drkness, and we were only aware of our situ- ation from time to time as the lightning flashed: the interval, therefore, between the flashes, which were so vivid as to illumine the horizon round, was of a most awful and appalling nature, and the momentary succession of our hopes and fears, which crowded rapidly upon each other, may be better imagined than described. We were evi- denfly passing the line of breakers very quickly; but our escape appeared to be only possible through the interposition of a Divine Providence, for, by the glare of a vivid stream of forked lightning, the extremity of the reef was seen within ten yards from our lee bow; and the wave which floated the vessel the next moment broke upon the rocks th a surf as high as the vessel's mast head: at this dreadful moment the swell leR the cutter, and she struck upon a rock with such force, that the rudder was nearly liRed out of the gudgeons: fortunately we had a brave man and a good seaman at the helm, for instantly recovering the tiller, by a blow from. which he had been knocked down when the vessel struck, he obeyed my ordera with such attention and Vo,-. I. $ {]

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