Old Ben's prognostications were not very pleasant, for we were anxious to be round the Cape among the wonders we expected to behold in the Pacific.  Scarcely was the order given, than the crew were in the rigging.  Top-gallant-sails were quickly stowed, three reefs were taken in the topsails, and the courses were brailed up and furled.  This was done not a moment too soon: the mighty seas came rolling up mountains beyond mountains, with wide valleys between them, into whose depths the ship plunged down from each watery height as it came under her, seeming as if she could never rise again.  Still once more she was lifted upwards among showers of spray, which flew off from the white-crested seas, deluging us fore and aft.  Overhead the wild scud flew fast, the stern Cape looked more solitary and grand, and the sea-fowl with discordant shrieks flew round and round, closing in the circles they were forming till they almost touched our masts.  The ship struggled bravely onward on the starboard-tack, rapidly increasing her distance from the land, but making very little way to the westward.