. This creates a vacuum, which the
surrounding air hastens to fill, causing thus a constant indraught from
both the north and south towards the equator; and the fact of the
opposing winds meeting at this point produces those very calms which vex
us poor mariners. There, Master Tom, that's all I can tell you; for, I
must see about my sextant now to consult the great luminary we have been
talking of, so as to see where our scudding has taken us to."

Captain Miles's mission after his sextant, however, was a vain quest to-
day, for a mass of fleeting clouds were continually passing to and fro
across the zenith, obscuring the heavens so much that not a single peep
of the sun could be had either at noon or later on.

The wind now, too, began to come in violent gusts, striking the ship
every now and then with a force that seemed to bury her in the water;
while the sea got rougher and rougher, looking as angry as it was
possible to conceive.

Presently, with a loud report, the main-topsail split in half, and then
the pieces blew away bit by bit ahead of the ship like paper kites, the
useful foretop-sail which had been again set in the afternoon being now
the only sail left on her; but, still, on she plunged through the waste
of waters as madly as ever, the sky getting more and more overcast as
the day wore on, and a heavy bank of blue-black clouds gathered together
right in front, to the north-west, whither we were trending.

"Don't you think, captain," said Mr Marline, who had returned to the
poop after having a short rest below--he having remained on deck while
the captain had turned in during the early part of the morning watch--"I
say, don't you think we're running into the very jaws of the gale
again?"

"It certainly looks like it," replied Captain Miles shaking his head.
"We must try and lay her to, if we can, though I dread the job! See to
the hands being ready to set that mizzen staysail; it will help her head
round when we ease off the yards."

This sail had been bent all ready the night before, and now with great
difficulty was hoisted; but then came a greater difficulty, that of
getting the ship about--for, what with the gusty wind and the heavy sea
it was a very perilous proceeding, the vessel running the risk of being
pooped as well as broaching-to.

"We'll have to wear her!" said the captain, after thinking over the
matter a bit. "Send a hand or two forwards to see to the fore-staysail,
so as to be re