was over. It had come and was gone again in the brief space
of some seven seconds.

"That is the narrowest shave I have ever had in my life," ejaculated
Leslie, catching his breath. "And you, Miss Trevor, have had an
experience such as falls to the lot of few people, I imagine--the
experience of being threatened with destruction by a falling meteor, and
surviving to tell the tale! I wonder how many others, beside this
little ship's company, have ever beheld so appalling and magnificent a
sight as we have this night witnessed?"

"Have you any suspicion, Mr Leslie, that this brig is especially marked
out and chosen as the theatre for exceptionally thrilling experiences?"
quaintly demanded the girl. "Because if there is a probability that
such is the case, I really think I shall be obliged to reconsider my
decision to proceed to Valparaiso in her, and ask you to land me at the
nearest port. The tragic deaths of those two men, Potter and Purchas,
were quite thrilling enough to upset the nerves of any ordinary girl;
but when it comes to being bombarded by meteors, I would really very
much rather be excused."

"Of course you would," assented Leslie, laughingly. "All the same," he
continued, "although I must confess that I have never heard of such a
thing happening, it might as probably have occurred in the heart of
London itself as out here at sea. That meteors actually fall to the
earth we know, for there are numerous records of such happenings; they
have been seen to fall, and have immediately afterwards been found
partially buried in the ground and still hot from the friction of their
flight through the air. Precisely where they will fall and strike is
necessarily a matter of the merest chance; you are, therefore, so far as
falling meteors are concerned, quite as safe here as anywhere else."

"Thank you," answered Miss Trevor, gravely, "it is reassuring to learn
that, no matter where I am, I am liable to have a huge incandescent mass
of meteoric stone hurtling at me out of space at any moment--for that is
what your statement really amounts to, you know--isn't it? And now I
will bid you good night and retire to my cabin, with the fixed
resolution not to dream of falling meteors."

And therewith she gave him her hand for a moment, and then vanished down
the companion-way.

CHAPTER SIX.

THE MERMAID'S CREW WITNESS A CATASTROPHE.

The _Mermaid_ carried the south-east trade winds until she was well
south