nd exchanged
numbers with the _Tremendous_; and on the evening of the tenth day out
the lofty, precipitous cliffs of the Azores were sighted and passed.

Another week sped away without the occurrence of any incident worthy of
record; the wind continued fair and steady; and the convoy, though its
rate of travelling was rather slow, made very good progress.

On the afternoon of the eighteenth day out from Plymouth, the fleet
being at the time in latitude 32 degrees North, longitude 44 degrees 30
minutes West, or about half-way to Jamaica, the wind fell light; the
sky, which had hitherto been clear, became overcast, heavy masses of
dark, thunderous cloud slowly gathering in the south-western quarter and
gradually spreading athwart the sky until the whole of the visible
heavens were obscured. The barometer dropped slightly, indicating, in
conjunction with the aspect of the sky, a probable change of wind and a
consequent interruption to their hitherto highly satisfactory progress.

As evening fell, flashes of sheet-lightning were occasionally to be seen
along the southern horizon; and Captain Leicester, anticipating a
thunder-storm and a probable heavy downfall of rain, made preparations
for the refilling of his water-casks.

But, though the atmosphere appeared to be heavily charged with
electricity, the thunder held off, and when night closed down upon the
convoy, the moon being then in her third quarter and rising late, it
became as dark as a wolf's mouth.

Lights were of course displayed on board each ship; and the convoy
having become somewhat scattered in consequence of the failure of the
breeze, the effect was very singular and striking.

This being George's first voyage across the Atlantic, he was naturally a
little anxious; and on the night in question he resolved to remain on
deck until the weather should have assumed some more decided aspect.
There was fortunately still a gentle breeze from about east-south-east
fanning the convoy along at a speed of some two knots in the hour, just
giving the ships steerage-way; and they were consequently able to keep
out of each other's way, and thus avoid collision, always a great
element of danger when a large number of craft happen to be sailing in
company.

About two bells in the middle watch, George being seated at the time
near the companion, smoking a meditative pipe, and thinking somewhat
ruefully about Lucy Walford, the carpenter, who was in charge of the
deck,