possibility of the wind again shifting and driving some of the hapless
Spaniards on the beach.

They waited in vain. The hurricane had only as yet been gathering
strength. Suddenly it burst with terrific violence, which even the
seamen on the firm ground could with difficulty face, as it drove masses
of spray and sand against them, the roar of the seas almost drowning the
commander's voice as he ordered them to retire to the shelter of some
rocks a short distance from the shore. On getting under their lee, as
they again looked towards where the wreck had been, scarcely a vestige
of her remained, nor was one of her hapless crew seen alive. Still,
while a hope remained that some poor fellow clinging to a piece of the
wreck might be thrown on the beach, a look-out was kept to render him
assistance; but some hours passed by, and not a single human being of
those who had lately formed the crew of the Spanish frigate could by any
possibility have remained alive. The commander ordered the men to
return to the fort. The hurricane continued raging with unabated
violence for the greater part of the flight.

"I say, Nat, it is as well we had not started with Mr Foley," observed
Gerald to his brother midshipman. "What would have become of us, I
wonder?"

"We should have been in a bad plight, I suppose," answered Nat. "I
can't help thinking that the commander was right in not letting us go as
soon as we wished."

The stormy weather continued for some time longer. Occasionally the
wind ceased, but only again to blow with almost as much violence as
before. Mr Foley and the master both acknowledged the commander's
wisdom in not allowing them to do as they had desired. The hurricane
season must, however, come to an end, for it had apparently already
lasted longer than usual, and the young lieutenant began to indulge in
the expectation of soon returning to Jamaica.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

TWO VESSELS APPEAR OFF THE ISLAND--ONE CHASING THE OTHER--THE STERNMOST
SUPPOSED TO BE THE OUZEL GALLEY--FIRING HEARD AT NIGHT--A CALM--THE
BOATS PUT OFF--A BREEZE--THE PIRATE ESCAPES--SOUND OF AN ENGAGEMENT
HEARD--BELIEF THAT THE MERCHANTMAN HAS BEEN CAPTURED--A BOAT PREPARED
FOR A VOYAGE TO JAMAICA--JUST AS SHE IS STARTING, A VESSEL IS SEEN AT
ANCHOR INSIDE THE REEFS--THE BOATS PUSH FOR HER--THE STRANGER FIRES AT
THEM--IS BOARDED AND CAPTURED--GERALD'S DISMAY ON DISCOVERING THE "LOG
OF THE RESEARCH, CAPTAIN GERALD TRACY"--DILLON FO