It was impossible to
keep a light above, for no lantern could burn in such a storm.
The waves began gradually to subside at ten o'clock at night, and a
slow steady rain came, which soon calmed the sea to a great extent. As
soon as it was safe to go above deck, it was found that more than a
hundred horses had been lost overboard, and that one mast had been
carried away. Down below nearly every man was in his bunk, for there
was scarcely a person who was not seasick, and most of them wouldn't
have cared if the ship had gone down with all aboard, such was their
feeling of despondency. Archie was as sick as any of the others, but
was able to make notes of occurrences just the same. And when he grew
better the next day, he wrote an excellent account of the storm to
send to the Enterprise on his arrival in Manila.
After this rough weather experience, every man aboard was anxious to
reach port, and when, after many more days, the Bay of Cavit? was
reached, a great cheer went up from a thousand throats, for everyone
was overjoyed at the sight of land.
The transport came to anchor off the forts which had once been
Spain's, and it was announced that no one would be allowed to land for
two days, until advices could be had from Manila and the interior of
the island. This was very trying for Archie, being obliged to sit on
deck for two whole days, looking at a shore which seemed very
inviting, in spite of the general dilapidated appearance of the
various buildings and docks.
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