titudes, during which Philosopher Jack
formed a strong friendship with Ben Trench and Watty Wilkins; continued
his instruction of the amiable and unfathomable Baldwin Burr, and became
a general favourite with the crew of the _Lively Poll_. Suffice it to
say that all went well, and the good ship sailed along under favouring
breezes without mishap of any kind until she reached that great ocean
whose unknown waters circle round the Southern Pole.

Here, however, good fortune forsook them, and contrary-gales baffling
the _Lively Poll_ drove her out of her course, while tumbling billows
buffeted her severely.

One night a dead calm prevailed. The air became hot, clouds rose
rapidly over the sky, and the barometer--that faithful friend of the
mariner--fell unusually low.

"How dreadfully dark it is getting," said Polly, in a low,
half-frightened tone to Baldwin Burr, who was at the wheel.

"We're going to have a night of it, my dear," replied the seaman.

If he had said that the winds and waves were going to "have a night of
it" Baldwin Burr would have been more strictly correct. He had scarcely
uttered the words when the captain gave orders to close-reef the
top-sails. Our philosopher, springing aloft with his comrades, was out
on the top-sail yard in a few seconds. Scarcely had the sails been
reefed when the gale burst upon the ship, and almost laid her flat upon
the foaming sea. At first the very violence of the wind kept the waves
down, but they gradually rose until the ship was tossed on their crests
and engulfed in their hollows like a cork. As the force of the gale
increased sail was further reduced, until nothing but a mere rag was
left and even this at last was split and blown to ribbons. Inky clouds
soon obscured the sky, and, as night descended on the wild scene, the
darkness became so intense that nothing could be seen except the pale
gleam of foaming billows as they flashed past over the bulwarks. In the
midst of the turmoil there came a blinding flash of lightning, followed
instantly by a terrible crash of thunder. This was succeeded by a sound
of rending which was not the result of elemental strife.

"Foremast gone, sir," cried one of the men, staggering aft.

Seizing an axe, the captain sprang forward. Edwin Jack followed. They
found the ship's-carpenter already at work cutting the shrouds and other
ropes that held the wreck of the mast. As flashes of lightning followed
in quick succession