It opens at the top of a mountain, 4 Stars. Although, at the time, so strong a gale was blowing landward that a brig in the remote offing lay to under a double-reefed trysail, and constantly plunged her whole hull out of sight, still there was here nothing like a regular swell, but only a short, quick, angry cross dashing of water in every direction -- as well in the teeth of the wind as otherwise. But we were now, in a great measure, rid of these annoyances just us death-condemned felons in prison are allowed petty indulgences, forbidden them while their doom is yet uncertain. I positively felt awishto explore its depths, even at the sacrifice I was going to make; and my principal grief was that I should never be able to tell my old companions on shore about the mysteries I should see. I would not have believed that any wave could rise so high. A boat picked me up -- exhausted from fatigue -- and (now that the danger was removed) speechless from the memory of its horror. //