ago obscured the sun; a weird twilight
had fallen upon the scene; the stagnant air had grown even more
oppressively hot than at first; not a bird uttered a single note; not an
insect raised a chirp; not a leaf stirred; and in the profound silence
the roar of the surf on the reef became thunderous in its resonance.
They dined somewhat earlier than usual that night, and while they sat
over their meal the darkness fell and they lighted the lamps. Then
Leslie went out to see to the security of the catamaran, making her fast
to the shore with additional moorings; and upon his return Flora
insisted that he should lie down on the sofa while she sang and played
to him. Then Leslie, in his turn, his heart lightened with returning
hope and happiness, lifted up his voice, and for the first time since
that terrible and memorable day, nearly eight years ago, broke into
song. And finally they began to sing duets together, his clear, rich,
mellow tenor blending well with Flora's sweet, sympathetic soprano.

The concert was interrupted by the distant muttering of thunder and the
fitful flickering of lightning; and they went out together down to the
shore to watch the gathering storm. It was a long time in coming, but
by-and-by, as they stood together close to the water's edge, a sudden
swishing sound, like that of wind stirring leaves, became audible, and
in another moment the blast was upon them and tearing across the glassy
surface of the lagoon, darkening its surface and lashing it into foam.
Then, a minute or two later, down came the rain in sheets, and they had
to beat a precipitate retreat to the tent, getting a thorough drenching
on the journey, though it occupied them but a minute. The gale raged
all through the night and up to nearly noon on the following day, when
it broke, the sky cleared, and the wind gradually dropped to a moderate
breeze, veering all the time round by north to east until the south-east
trade wind was once more blowing, but very much more gently than usual.
Upon going out, the next day, Leslie was delighted to find that the gale
had done no damage whatever anywhere, all stores and materials having
been effectually protected from the rain, while the direction of the
gale had been such that it could not possibly harm the brig.

Although the gale actually broke--as has been said--shortly before noon,
it moderated so gradually throughout the afternoon that it was not until
the next day that the sea had go