ing into the worst part of the gale?"

"No, Marline, no; I don't believe that," replied the other. "You'll see
that it will blow itself out presently and calm down to a steady breeze,
when we'll be able to haul our wind, making that fair for us."

"Don't you notice, though, captain," urged the mate, "that those clouds
also sheer off in a contrary direction, showing that the upper currents
of air are not affected by this wind at all--a proof that it is a sort
of cyclone or hurricane?"

"And if so," retorted Captain Miles, "it began in the south-east, where
it is still blowing from; so, when it veers, it will be to the south and
west, making a fair wind for us, as I said before."

"Very good; you know best, sir," said Mr Marline in a way that showed
he was still unconvinced.

But the captain had not done with his reasons yet.

"Just consider, Marline," he continued, "we couldn't very well wear the
ship now with this thundering wind and following sea, or try and heave
her to--the only thing left for us to do if we don't scud. Indeed, I
think we must get some more sail on her as it is; for those rollers are
getting too heavy and gaining on us, and, if we don't keep ahead of
them, why, they'll poop us, that's all!"

"Do you think the masts will stand it, sir?" queried the first mate,
glancing aloft, where the spars were bent like whips and the rigging as
taut as fiddle-strings.

"Stand it? Of course they will," replied the captain. "I'll back them
to stand anything, if the stays only hold."

"And I'll guarantee that they will not carry away," retorted Mr
Marline, who had specially seen to the setting up of the rigging and was
confident of the job being well done, being rather proud of his
handiwork.

"Well, then, we'll have the mainsail on her," said the captain, to put
an end to the discussion. "You'd better go and rouse up the other
watch, Mr Jackson; it will be a rough bit of work, I fancy."

The second mate then went forwards, shouting, "All hands, ahoy!" and,
shortly afterwards, the men were clustering in the shrouds, making their
way as well as they could against the force of the wind, up the ratlines
to the main-yard, the whole watch being employed on the job so as to get
it done quickly.

As they lay out along the foot-rope they were almost blown away; but,
holding on "by the skin of their teeth," they managed to cast-off the
gaskets, when, the clew-lines and bunt-lines being let fly, the huge
sai