Page:The Columbia river , or, Scenes and adventures during a residence of six years on the western side of the Rocky Mountains among various tribes of Indians hitherto unknown (Volume 1).djvu/31

 This was the most gloomy Christmas eve I ever spent. The above melancholy accident had thrown a cloud over every countenance; and when to this was added the darkness of the cabin, (the dead-lights being all in,) with the loud roaring of the storm, and the Alpine waves threatening every instant to ingulph us, our situation may be more easily imagined than described. Home, with all its mild and social endearments at this season of general festivity, involuntarily obtruded itself on our recollections. The half expressed wish of being once more on terra firma was unconsciously communicated from one to another. But when we looked upon the weather-*beaten face of our veteran captain, and observed the careless, if not contented air of his officers and crew; when we felt that they were enduring the "peltings of the pitiless storm" unmoved and without a murmur; and when we reflected on the immense expanse of ocean through which we had to plough our way, and how fruitless would be the indulgence of unmanly apprehension,—"to the wind we gave our sighs," ascended to the deck, and tendered our feeble assistance to the captain.

The gale continued with much violence until the 29th; when, at two, we made Staten