ck her on the quarter. So great was
the pressure that she heeled far over, burying her bows so deeply
that it seemed as if she were going to dive, head foremost. The
water swept over the bulwarks in torrents, and extended almost up
to the foot of the foremast. Then, very slowly, as she gathered
way, the bow lifted and, in a minute, she was scudding fast before
the gale; gathering speed, every moment, from the pressure of the
wind upon her masts and hull, and from the fragment of sail shown
forward. At present there were no waves, the surface of the water
seeming pressed almost flat by the weight of the wind.

Then there was a deafening crash, and a blaze of light. The
fore-top mast was riven in fragments, but none of these fell on the
deck, the wind carrying them far ahead.

"You had better make your way forward, Mr. Hardy," Fairclough
shouted, into the lieutenant's ear, "and see if anyone is hurt."

Fortunately the precaution which had been taken, of ordering the
men away from the mast, had prevented any loss of life; but several
of the men were temporarily blinded. Three or four had been struck
to the deck, by the passage of the electric fluid close to them;
but these presently regained their feet. Hardy returned, and
reported to the captain.

"You had better send the carpenter down, to see that there is no
fire below."

In a minute the man ran up, with the news that he believed the foot
of the mast was on fire. Mr. Hardy went to a group of men.

"Get some buckets, my lads," he said quietly, "and make your way
down to the hold. I will go with you. As was to be expected, the
lightning has fired the foot of the mast; but there is no cause for
alarm. As we have discovered it so soon, we shall not be long in
getting it under."

The men at once filled the fire buckets and, led by Mr. Hardy, went
below. As soon as the hatchway leading to the hold was lifted, a
volume of smoke poured up.

"Wait a minute, till it has cleared off a little," the lieutenant
said; and then, to the midshipman who had accompanied him:

"Go to the captain, and tell him that there is more smoke than I
like, and ask him to come below. Tell him I think the pumps had
better be rigged, and the hose passed down."

Fairclough, who was accompanied by Harry, joined him just as he was
about to descend the ladder.

"I will go down with you, Mr. Hardy," he said.

"Mr. Eden, will you go up and send down all hands, except those at
the wheel? Set