Clouds had, indeed, been thickly gathering in the south-west; and the stars, which had hitherto shone brightly, were totally obscured.  The wind also, which had been steady, now began to blow in strong squalls, compelling us to shorten sail.  First, two reefs were taken down in the mainsail; it was then closely-reefed, while the foresail was hauled down, and the storm jib set.  Still, it was as much as the cutter could do to look up to it.  Heavy seas now began to roll in from the Atlantic, tumbling the cutter about.  Now she rose to the summit of a foam-crested wave, now she sank down into the hollow.