to "hold on fast!" the captain turned the vessel's head
so as to meet the blast. So fierce was it that it cut off the crests of
the wavelets, blowing the sea almost flat for a time, and producing what
is known as a white squall. The sail was kept fluttering until the fury
of the onset was over, then the wind was allowed to fill it; the
_Penelope_ bent down until the sea began to bubble over the lee
bulwarks, and in a few moments more she was springing over the fast
rising waves like a nautical racehorse.

Every moment the gale increased, obliging the mariners to show but a
corner of the sail. Even this had at last to be taken in, and, during
the whole of that dismal day and of the black night which followed, the
_Penelope_ drove helplessly before the wind under a bare pole.
Fortunately the gale was favourable, so that they were enabled to lay
their course, but it required all the skill and seamanship of Captain
Arkal to prevent their being pooped and swamped by the waves that rolled
hissing after them as if hungering mightily to swallow them up.

To have the right man in the right place at such times of imminent
danger is all-important, not only to the safety of the craft, but to the
peace of mind of those whose lives are in jeopardy. All on board the
little vessel during that hurricane felt much comforted by the knowledge
that their captain was in the right place. Although a "square man," he
had by no means been fitted into a round hole! Knowing this, Prince
Bladud felt no anxiety as to the management of the craft, and gave
himself up to contemplate the grandeur of the storm, for the howling
blast, creaking spars, and bursts of rattling thunder, rendered
conversation out of the question.

During a slight lull, however, Bladud asked the question whether the
captain knew on what part of the coast they were running.

"Not exactly," he replied, "we have been running so long in darkness
that I can only guess. If it holds on much longer like this I shall
have to put her head to wind and wait for more light. It may be that we
have been driven too far to the left, and there are islands hereabouts
that we must keep well clear of. I would that we had put into some bay
for shelter before this befell us. Ho! mate."

"Ay, captain."

"See that you put our sharpest pair of eyes in the bow, and let a second
pair watch the first, lest the owner of them should go to sleep."

"Little Maikar is there, sir," shouted the ma