he wind was gradually
freshening and the sea getting up; and by the time we made sail again
the waves had put on their white caps, while a heavy, rolling swell had
set in.

This met us almost full butt as we lay on our course and broke over our
weather bow in columns of spray, washing the forecastle fore and aft and
tumbling into the waist in a cataract of foam.

The water was knee-deep on the lee side of the deck, whenever the ship
heeled over to port under the pressure of her canvas, passing out of the
scuppers like a mill-race on her rising again and righting on an even
keel.

The more the gale blew, however, the better the old _Candahar_ appeared
to like it; racing along in grand style, and kicking up her heels to the
Frenchman who was pretty soon hull down astern, the distance between us
widening each instant all the more rapidly from the fact of our
proceeding in opposite directions!

At Two Bells, when the log was hove, we were found to be going over nine
knots but the ship began to plunge so much presently, that Commander
Nesbitt, after one or two anxious glances aloft, ordered the boatswain's
mate to call the hands to shorten sail, setting them to work the moment
they came up from below, the topgallant sails and royals being taken in
without delay and the royal yards sent down.

"I thought we were going to have bad luck," observed Mr Stormcock, who
had made his appearance again on the quarter-deck on hearing the
boatswain's pipe for all hands. "We haven't seen the worst of it yet,
I'm afraid."

"Shut up, you old croaker," said Mr Jellaby. "Why, you're a regular
Jonah with your prophecies of evil!"

"I hope you won't chuck me overboard for it, though, as they did him!"
replied Mr Stormcock, good-humouredly. "Goodness knows, I don't wish
any harm to the old ship, or anyone in her! It isn't likely I would;
but, look at those clouds there away to win'ard and judge for yourself
what sort of weather we're likely to have before nightfall!"

"Yes; no doubt you're right, Stormcock," said "Joe" in answer to this,
squinting as he spoke over the side to the westward, where a heavy bank
of cloud was rising up and nearly blotting out now the sun as it sank
lower and lower towards the horizon. "It does look squally, certainly;
still, I can't see the use of anticipating the worst and trying to meet
troubles half-way, as you do, old chap!"

"I would rather be prepared for them than be caught napping," rejoined