The attempts to account phenomenon - some , I remember, seemed sufficiently plausible in perusal - now wore very different and unsatisfactory aspect The idea generally received is , as three smaller vortices Ferroe islands, "have no other cause collision of waves rising and falling, at flux and reflux, against ridge of rocks and shelves, which confines the water so precipitates itself like cataract ; and thus the higher the flood rises, the deeper must the fall be, natural result of all is whirlpool or vortex, the prodigious suction of sufficiently known by lesser experiments " - These are the words Encyclopdia Britannica Kircher and others imagine that centre channel Maelstrm is an abyss penetrating the globe, and issuing in some very remote part - the Gulf of Bothnia being somewhat decidedly named in one instance This opinion, idle in itself, one , as I gazed, my imagination most readily assented ; and, mentioning it guide, rather surprised to hear him say that, although it view almost universally entertained subject Norwegians, it nevertheless was not his own former notion he confessed his inability to comprehend it ; and here I agreed - for, however conclusive on paper, it becomes altogether unintelligible, and even absurd, amid the thunder abyss

" good look whirl now," said the old man, "and creep round this crag, so as in its lee, and deaden the roar water, tell you story convince you I ought something Moskoe-strm "

I placed myself as desired, and he proceeded

"Myself and my two brothers once owned schooner-rigged smack of about seventy tons burthen, we were habit of fishing islands beyond Moskoe, nearly to Vurrgh In all violent eddies at sea good fishing, at proper opportunities, if one has only the courage to attempt it ; but whole Lofoden coastmen, we three were the only ones regular business of going out islands, as I tell you The usual grounds are great way lower down southward There fish got at all hours, without much risk, and therefore these places are preferred The choice spots over here rocks, however, yield the finest variety, but in far greater abundance ; we often got in single day, what the more timid craft scrape together in week , it matter of desperate speculation - the risk of life standing instead of labor, and courage answering for capital

"We kept the smack in cove about five miles higher up the coast than this ; and our practice, in fine weather, advantage fifteen minutes' slack to push across the main channel Moskoe-strm, far above the pool, and then drop down upon anchorage somewhere near Otterholm, or Sandflesen, where the eddies so violent as elsewhere Here we used to remain until nearly time for slack-water again, when we weighed and made for home We never set out expedition without steady side wind for going and coming - one that sure fail us before our return - and we seldom made mis-calculation point Twice, during six years, we were forced to stay all night at anchor on account of dead calm, rare thing indeed just about here ; and once we had to remain grounds nearly week, starving to death, owing to gale which blew up shortly after our arrival, and made the channel too boisterous thought of occasion we driven out to sea of everything, ( whirlpools threw us round and round so violently, that, , we fouled our anchor and dragged it) that we drifted into innumerable cross currents - here to-day and gone to-morrow - which drove us under the lee of Flimen, where, by good luck, we brought up

" tell you the twentieth part difficulties we encountered ' grounds' - bad spot in, even in good weather - but shift always to run the gauntlet Moskoe-strm itself without accident ; although at times my heart in my mouth when we happened minute or so behind or slack The wind sometimes was not as strong thought it at starting, and then rather less way than wish, while the current rendered the smack unmanageable My eldest brother had son eighteen years old, and I had two stout boys own These of great assistance at such times, in using the sweeps, as afterward in fishing - but, somehow, although we ran the risk ourselves, we the heart to let the young ones get danger - for, after all is said and done, horrible danger, and truth

" now within of three years since what going you occurred tenth day of July, 18-, day which the people part world will never forget - for one blew the most terrible hurricane that ever came heavens And yet all the morning, and indeed until late afternoon, gentle and steady breeze south-west, while the sun shone brightly, so oldest seaman among us have foreseen

"The three of us - my two brothers and myself - had crossed over islands about two o'clock P M , and had soon nearly loaded the smack with fine fish, which, we all remarked, were more plenty that day than we had ever known them just seven, by my watch_, when we weighed and started for home, so worst Strm at slack water, which at eight

"We set out with fresh wind starboard quarter, and for spanked along at great rate, never dreaming of danger, for indeed we saw not the slightest reason to apprehend it All at once we were taken aback by breeze from over Helseggen most unusual - something that had never happened before - and I began little uneasy, without exactly knowing why We put the boat wind, but could make no headway at all eddies, and point of proposing to return anchorage, when, looking astern, we saw the whole horizon covered with singular copper-colored cloud that rose most amazing velocity

" meantime the breeze that had headed us off fell away, and we were dead becalmed, drifting about in every direction This state of things, however, last long enough to time In minute the storm was upon us - in two the sky was entirely overcast - and what driving spray, it became suddenly so dark that we smack

"Such hurricane as then blew folly to attempt describing The oldest seaman in Norway never experienced any thing like it We had let our sails go run before it cleverly took us ; but, first puff, both our masts went board as sawed off - the mainmast taking with it my youngest brother, who had lashed himself for safety

"Our boat lightest feather of thing that ever sat upon water It had complete flush deck, with only small hatch near the bow, and this hatch it had always been our custom to batten down when about to cross the Strm, by way of precaution against the chopping seas But circumstance foundered at once - for we lay entirely buried for some moments How my elder brother escaped destruction I , for I never had an opportunity of ascertaining part, I had let the foresail run, I threw myself flat on deck, with my feet against the narrow gunwale bow, and with my hands grasping ring-bolt near the foot fore-mast mere instinct that prompted me to - undoubtedly the very best thing done - for flurried

"For some moments we were completely deluged, as , and all I held my breath, and clung bolt When stand it no longer I raised myself upon my knees, still keeping hold with my hands, and thus got my head clear Presently our little boat gave herself shake, just as dog does in coming water, and thus rid herself, in some measure, seas now trying the better stupor that had come over me, and to collect my senses so as , when somebody grasp my arm my elder brother, and my heart leaped for joy, for I had made sure that overboard - but the next moment all this joy was turned into horror - for he put his mouth close to my ear, and screamed out the word '_Moskoe-strm ! '