But it was in vain.

A more violent gust struck the ship at that moment, and tore off the sail.

Austin, who was on the yard of the foretop-sail, was struck by the larboard sheet-rope.

Wounded, but rather slightly, he could climb down again to the deck.
Dick Sand, extremely anxious, had but one thought.

It was that the ship, urged with such fury, was going to be dashed to pieces every moment; for, according to his calculation, the rocks of the coast could not be distant.