eck.

The sun had sunk beneath the ocean in a refulgence of glory, its parting
rays throwing a ruddy glow over the surface, unbroken by a single
ripple.

"We must make up our minds to spend the night where we are," observed
Rayner. "It will be as well for you and me to take watch and watch, and
not to trust to any of the men, for although I have every confidence in
Peek, I cannot say the same for the rest."

Oliver, of course, agreed to this, and took the first watch. At
midnight he aroused Rayner, who had stretched himself on one of the
lockers, not feeling inclined to turn into either of the
doubtful-looking bunks at the side of the vessel.

"I suspect that we are going to have a change of weather," said Oliver,
as he came on deck. "The air feels unusually oppressive for this time
of night. There is a mist rising to the southward, though the stars
overhead shine as bright as usual."

"I don't know what to think of it, having had but little experience in
these seas," answered Rayner; "I must ask the oldest of the Frenchmen,
but I don't see any of them on deck."

"No, they and the blacks have all turned in," said Oliver. "They did
not ask my leave, but I thought it useless to rouse them up again, as
there seemed no chance of their being wanted."

"Well, go and lie down and take a caulk, if the centipedes and
cockroaches will let you," laughed Rayner. "They have been crawling all
over me during the time I have been below, but I knew there was no use
attempting to keep them off, so I let them crawl, without interfering
with their pleasure. If I see any further change in the appearance of
the sky, I will rouse you up, and we'll make the black fellows turn out
to be ready to shorten sail."

Rayner for some time walked the deck of the little vessel alone. Jack
was at the helm, and one of the men forward. The watch was very nearly
out, and he determined not to call up Oliver until daylight. On looking
to the southward he saw that the mist which had before remained only a
few feet above the horizon was rapidly covering the sky, while beneath
it he distinguished a long line of white foam.

"Turn out, Oliver!" he shouted through the cabin skylight; "I'll take
the helm. Peek, run forward and rouse up the blacks and Frenchmen to
shorten sail. Not a moment to be lost!"

Jack as he went forward shouted down the main hatchway, where Tom and
the other men were sleeping, and then in a stentorian voice called, in