the bow right into the teeth of the wind. Oh, how that
little craft did plunge! At times it seemed as if the greater part of
her length were wholly out of water, that she had taken a long,
quivering leap from the crest of one great wave to another. So hard
was she pitching that she had little time left in which to roll. Salt
spray rained down over the decks until the cabin itself was almost
wholly hidden from the view of the girl at the wheel. In the meantime
the captain had reefed the mainsail down to the last row.

"Now let her off a few points," he directed.

Boom!

"Oh, what was that?" cried Miss Elting, her voice barely heard in the
shriek of the gale. "What happened?"

"Jib gone by the board," shouted the captain. "Lucky if we don't lose
the mainsail the same way."

Harriet had not uttered a sound when the startling report had boomed
out above the roar of the storm, but her heart had seemed to leap into
her throat. Her arms had grown numb under the strain of holding the
wheel, for the sea was hurling its tremendous force against the craft,
requiring great effort on the part of the helmswoman to keep the boat
on its course. But she clung doggedly to her chosen task, seeking to
pierce the darkness ahead with her gaze. The salt water made her eyes
smart so that she could scarcely see at all. Yet she could feel the
wind on her face, and by that guide alone she was enabled to keep the
"Sue" headed into the storm. She long since had ceased trying to keep
the boat on a compass course, for the greater part of the time the
compass card was invisible either through the spray or solid water,
as the case might be.

It was marvelous how the little boat stood up under the bombardment of
the Atlantic rollers and the mountains of water that hurled themselves
upon her. Harriet was standing in water up to her knees, but,
fortunately, every time the boat rolled or plunged, a volume of salt
water was hurled out into the sea itself.

In the cabin everything movable was afloat. The passengers in there
were nearly drowned at times, but in their fright most of them had
forgotten their seasickness. They were clinging to the seats in most
instances, screaming with fear. Miss Elting, deciding that her
presence was needed in the cabin rather than outside, plunged into the
dark hole head-first. Quickly gathering herself together, she did her
best to calm and comfort the girls, though every plunge of the boat
she expected would be it