nger, I suppose.

"Hullo, Master Tom, not turned in yet?" cried Mr Marline, seeing me by
the light from the compass and appearing to be very much surprised at my
not having gone below to bed.

"No, sir," I said. "I stopped up to wait for the wind."

"Ah, I'm afraid you'll have to wait longer," he replied. "This'll be
nothing but a tropical thunder-storm, and probably we won't have the
ghost of a breeze after it has gone over."

"I think differently, sir, begging your pardon," said Jackson,
interposing at this point; "and, if you don't mind, Mr Marline, I'd
like to have the lighter sails taken off her, in case it comes on to
blow."

"All right, please yourself, my dear sir; you're in charge of the deck,"
answered the first mate drily. "Though, mind you, I think you're giving
yourself trouble for nothing. I wouldn't, however, call the captain
till we really know whether we're going to have a squall or not."

"Very well, sir," said Jackson, "I won't call him; but I'll have the
upper canvas in, for it's just as well to be on the safe side,
especially as I do think we're in for something."

"With all my heart," replied Mr Marline cheerfully, seeing that Jackson
was timid about exercising his new authority against his opinion,
although he appeared to feel strongly in the matter. "Have in the rags
by all means. I daresay it will save some trouble bye-and-by."

"Very well, I will," said the other; and, calling the starboard watch,
who were idling about and having a quiet caulk in the waist, he soon
made them set about reducing the _Josephine's_ canvas--there being no
necessity yet for summoning "all hands," as there was not a breath of
air stirring, while the sea had hushed its monotonous roll, calming down
to the quiet of a mill-pond.

Previously to this, the ship had been under all plain sail, so as to be
ready for the wind when it chose to visit us again; but, in a very short
time, under Jackson's supervision and sharp, rapid orders, the courses
were clewed up, the flying-jib hauled down, the topgallant-sails furled,
and the spanker brailed up. In this half-dressed rig the vessel was now
prepared to meet any sudden squall; while, should a favourable breeze
come, sail could readily be added on--a much easier job to accomplish
than that of taking in canvas in a gale!

In the interim, although no further thunder was heard, and we only saw
the one vivid flash of forked lightning that had accompanied the fearful