called to a
school of porpoises that came leaping toward them, appearing at first
like miniature geysers springing out of the oily green seas. The
porpoises divided, passing on either side of the sloop and close
aboard, racing on toward the land that lay off yonder somewhere in the
green distance.

It was now impossible to stand without holding fast to something that
would not give. Harriet had never seen a boat roll so fast. From side
to side it lurched, plunging at the same time, both with almost
incredible speed. Her own head was beginning to spin. Tommy's face was
pale.

"You're getting seasick," smiled Harriet, eyeing her friend sharply.

"No, I'm not," protested the little girl "You're getting thick
yourthelf."

"I confess to being dizzy," admitted Harriet, "but I am not so ill
that I must go to bed. Keep outside. You will be much better off than
in the cabin, where the air is close and the others are suffering."

"I'm going to, thank you." Tommy stood braced against the cabin, her
keen little eyes observing the now serious face of the skipper. "I
gueth thomething ith going to happen," she observed.

"Don't tell the others," cautioned Harriet, with a warning shake of
the head.

"I don't intend to. What ith it, a thtorm?"

Harriet nodded.

"I knew it. I jutht knew thomething wath going to break loothe."

The purple haze was nearing at a rapid rate of speed, and Harriet
Burrell saw that with it the sea was piling up, its white crests angry
and menacing.

"Try to keep the wind dead astern," ordered the skipper. "I will
handle the sheets. Do you think you can manage it?"

"Yes, sir. I will be on the lookout for orders. You may depend upon
me, sir."

"Then we'll weather it, but we shall get pretty wet, and night is
coming on, too. We're going to have a merry night of it! All hands who
do not wish to get a ducking go below," shouted the skipper.

Miss Elting, Jane, Harriet and Tommy remained outside. The captain
tossed a rope to each, directing them to tie the ropes about their
waists, making the lines fast to a cleat on the after end of the
raised deck cabin.

"Just for safety's sake," he nodded.

The wind was beginning to whistle through the rigging, the water to
foam under the bows of the "Sister Sue," showing that she was getting
under good headway.

"Port one point," bellowed the skipper. Harriet instantly obeyed the
command. Then the gale was upon them with a screech and a roar. A
volume o