On July tenth we were still going large before a heavy sea. Second Mate Tom was on deck in the afternoon watch and, the wind having moderated some, his crowd were aloft shaking the reef out of the fore upper tops'l. Aahee was on the lee yardarm and as the sail dropped a squall of wind slapped along suddenly, and he, holding on to the jackstay with all of his might, turned a complete somersault as his heavy boots shot up from the footrope. He was wrenched from the yard, his body struck the belly of the reefed foresail and dashed into the sea. Some claimed he also struck one of the jib boom guys. All hands were called and the ship hove to. Mr. Zerk stormed out on deck mad clean through, and Captain Nichols conned the wheel, myself and another man from starboard being at the spokes. A half barrel of oil was broached into the sea as we braced sharp and put down the helm, manning the lee fore braces with great speed. The main spencer was hauled out and reefed spanker set while we braced sharp forward. Mr. Morstad had thrown over two life buoys, but we could not see either one of them. As we hove to the seas swept over us with redoubled fury, the racket aloft being frightful. We then realized how hard it was blowing. Captain Nichols estimated it at from 9 to 10 on the Beaufort Scale,[9] and the _Fuller_ bore down almost on her beam ends. [9] The Beaufort Notation, to indicate the force of the wind. 0 Calm. 1 Light airs: just sufficient to give steerage way. 2 Light breeze. Ship under all plain sail 1 to 2 knots. 3 Gentle breeze. " " " " " 3 to 4 " 4 Moderate breeze. " " " " " 4 to 5 " 5 Fresh breeze. Ship close hauled can carry Skysails. 6 Strong breeze. " " " " " Topgallant sails. 7 Moderate gale. " " " " " Reefed topsails. 8 Fresh gale. " " " " " Lower topsails, courses. 9 Strong gale. " " " " " Lower topsails; reefed courses. 10 Whole gale. Hove to, under main lower topsail and reefed foresail. 11 Storm. " " under storm staysails. 12 Hurricane. " " under bare poles. To launch a boat would have been madness and we watched the sea for a sight of Aahee or of the life buoys, all, however, without success, as no doubt he had drowned at once and the buoys were several miles to windward, while we were drifting off faster than they. Once hove to we shortened down for the night under lower tops'ls and storm stays'ls. The death of Aahee was tragic in the extreme; Kahemuku cried in his bunk, and no means could be found to stop him. Black Joe said nothing, he ate in silence, and when we went below he turned in without a word. They were one less to starboard; only a weak brown man gone, a poor piece of human wreckage washed loose from that plaything of the storm, a ship at sea. CHAPTER XXVIII AUSTRALIA'S STORY