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Time after time he was knocked nearly down , but up he came again and faced the mark , as bold as a lion , again to take the heavy blows , which sounded so as to make one 's heart turn with pity for him . The women stood upright , with their hands down by their sides , their eyes fixed upon the ground before them , and slided about without any perceptible means of motion ; for their feet were invisible , the hem of their dresses forming a perfect circle about them , reaching to the ground . Indeed , during all the time we were upon the coast , our principal food was fresh beef , and every man had perfect health ; but this was a time of especial devouring ; and what we should have done without meat , I cannot tell . The darkness , and complete stillness of the night , and the solitude of the ocean , gave to the sound a dreadful and almost supernatural effect . The bride 's father 's house was the principal one in the place , with a large court in front , upon which a tent was built , capable of containing several hundred people . As soon as I had got my wits about me , I put on a bold front , and told him plainly that I had a letter in my chest informing me that he had been written to , by the owners in Boston , to bring me home in the ship , and moreover , that he had told me that I was to go in the ship . Yet it was a dreadful night for those on deck . One of them was not so ill ; and was moving about , smoking his pipe , and talking , and trying to keep up his spirits ; but the other , who was my friend , and Aikane - Hope , was the most dreadful object I had ever seen in my life : his eyes sunken and dead , his cheeks fallen in against his teeth , his hands looking like claws ; a dreadful cough , which seemed to rack his whole shattered system , a hollow whispering voice , and an entire inability to move himself . The usual outfit of pumps , white stockings , loose white duck trowsers , blue jackets , clean checked shirts , black kerchiefs , hats well varnished , with a fathom of black ribbon over the left eye , a silk handkerchief flying from the outside jacket pocket , and four or five dollars tied up in the back of the neckerchief , and we were " all right .