But next moment, as we got past the back of the house and came suddenly into the full force of the wind, we knew that the storm was even fiercer than we supposed.

At first we could barely stand, as with heads down and knees bent we struggled forward.

But we got more used to it in a little while, and once in Harbour Street we were again in shelter.
Harbour Street was empty.

No one saw us as we glided down it towards the jetty.

We heard the church clock strike half-past eleven, the chimes being swept past us on the wind.
As we turned out of Harbour Street on to the jetty the force of the gale once more staggered us, and we had almost to crawl forward.