About midnight
I thought I had already witnessed all that was terrific on the ocean ; but what I had formerly seen , had been mere child 's play compared with this . Never can I forget the impression that was made upon me by the wild uproar of the elements . The smooth , long swell of the waves gradually changed into an agitated frothy surface , which constant flashes of lightning presented to us in all its horror ; and in the mean time the wind whistled through the rigging , and the ship creaked as if she was every minute going to pieces . About midnight the storm was at its height , and I gave up all for lost . The wind , which first blew from the south-west , was then due south , and the sailors said it began to abate a little before day : but I saw no great difference until about three in the afternoon ; soon after which the clouds broke away , and showed us the sun setting in cloudless majesty , while the billows still continued their stupendous rolling , but with a heavy movement , as if , after such mighty efforts , they were seeking repose in the bosom of their parent ocean . It soon became almost calm ; a light western breeze barely swelled our sails , and gently wafted us to the land , which we could faintly discern to the north-east . Our ship had been so shaken in the tempest , and was so leaky , that captain Thomas thought it prudent to make for the first port we could reach .