The rough voice and the oaths of the captain could hardly maintain discipline.

Some of the seamen lay down wishing to die, and had to be roused by blows.
Ulysses knew for the first time what waves really were.

He saw mountains of water, literally mountains, pouring over the hull of the boat, their very immensity making them form great slopes on both sides of it.

When the crest of one broke upon the vessel Ferragut was able to realize the monstrous weight of salt water.

Neither stone nor iron had the brutal blow of this liquid force that, upon breaking, fled in torrents or dashed up in spray.