Here began one of the keenest races ever sailed upon the ocean. They all stood to the southward with studdingsail booms and skysail yards sent down from aloft, with extra lashings on the boats, spare spars, and skylights, while all hands hardened their hearts for a thrash to windward round Cape Horn. On this desolate ocean the clippers raced from horizon to horizon in heavy westerly gales and a long, fierce, sweeping head sea. For fourteen exciting days and nights, with single-reefed, double-reefed, close-reefed topsails, reefs in and reefs out, their keen, watchful captains made use of every lull and slant to drive their ships to the westward of Cape Horn, across the great, broad-backed, white-crested seas. The _Sea Witch_ and _Raven_ were having it out tack for tack, sometimes one and then the other gaining an advantage, both carrying sail to the utmost limit of prudence, lifting their long, sharp bows to the wild, surging seas, the cold spray flying across their decks and blue water swirling along their lee waists, each handled with consummate skill, and not a spar carried away or rope parted. The _Typhoon_ in hot pursuit, was pressing the two leaders and slowly closing upon them, for her greater length and power helped her here. Finally the _Sea Witch_ and _Raven_ emerged from this desperate contest side by side, as they had entered it, both crossing latitude 50° S. in the Pacific in fourteen days from the same parallel in the Atlantic. The _Typhoon_ had now gained another day, and was within twenty-four hours’ sail of each. Clear of Cape Horn they all went away fast to the northward, rushing through the southeast trades with studdingsails, skysails, water-sails, and ring-tails--every yard of canvass set that would draw. On this stretch to the equator, the _Sea Witch_ fairly flew through the water, and crossed in 22 days from 50° S., leading the _Raven_ 2 and the _Typhoon_ 4 days. They now stood to the northward, close-hauled on the starboard tack, for their final struggle. Here again length and power counted in favor of the _Typhoon_, and she came up with the _Sea Witch_ and _Raven_, leading them both into port; the _Raven_, too, for the first time fairly headed the _Sea Witch_. The _Typhoon_ glided through the Golden Gate, November 18th, 106 days from Sandy Hook; the _Raven_, November 19th, 105 days from Boston Light, and the _Sea Witch_, November 20th, 110 days from Sandy Hook. Here is a brief abstract from their log-books: _Raven_ _Typhoon_ _Sea Witch_ To the equator in the Atlantic 25 days 27 days 29 days. From the equator to 50° S. 21 “ 23 “ 22 “ From 50° S. in the Atlantic to 50° S. in the Pacific 14 “ 13 “ 14 “ From 50° S. to the equator 24 “ 25 “ 22 “