Then the sounds began to change and vary; and while what seemed voices
were heard singing and sighing overhead, the deep rush and roll of
waters below had a strange and bewildering effect on the feelings. Now
the moon seemed to be rising through the fog ahead, and a pale, white
light gleamed for a few seconds, then disappeared, and all was dark
again. And as the ship advanced, the bold outline of a high and nearly
perpendicular bluff revealed itself above the fog, and had the
appearance of hanging directly over the ship. There was no mistaking the
danger now. In a few minutes more the ship was between walls of rock
three hundred feet high, drifting swiftly through a narrow channel of
deep and agitated water into a dark and dangerous cavern.
The ship passed in under full sail; the atmosphere changed and became
singularly oppressive; the very blood chilled; fear seized on all on
board, and men who a short time before were full of courage and strength
now became as helpless as children. The current was less rapid inside,
but the noise increased and became even more bewildering; while the
barometer would rise and fall quickly, and the compasses became
agitated under the influence of some strong magnetic disorder.
Pages:
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306