how it was, for I was too frightened to try to do anything. But when I
found myself floating as I used to do long ago, I felt my fear go away a
little, and I shut my eyes and prayed, and then it went away altogether;
and I felt quite sure you would come to save me, and you _did_ come,
Glynn, and I know it was God who sent you. But I became a good deal
frightened again when I thought of the sharks, and--"

"Now, Ailie, stop!" said Glynn. "You're forgetting your promise, and
exciting yourself again."

"So she is, and I must order you out, Master Glynn," said the doctor,
opening the door, and entering at that moment.

Glynn rose, patted the child's head, and nodded cheerfully as he left
the little cabin.

The captain caught him as he passed, and began to reiterate his thanks,
when their conversation was interrupted by the voice of Mr Millons, who
put his head in at the skylight and said--"Squall coming, sir, I think."

"So, so," cried the captain, running upon deck. "I've been looking for
it. Call all hands, Mr Millons, and take in sail--every rag, except
the storm-trysails."

Glynn hurried forward, and in a few minutes every man was at his post.
The sails were furled, and every preparation made for a severe squall;
for Captain Dunning knew that that part of the coast of Africa off which
the _Red Eric_ was then sailing was subject to sudden squalls, which,
though usually of short duration, were sometimes terrific in their
violence.

"Is everything snug, Mr Millons?"

"All snug, sir."

"Then let the men stand-by till it's over."

The night had grown intensely dark, but away on the starboard-quarter
the heavens appeared of an ebony blackness that was quite appalling.
This appearance, that rose on the sky like a shroud of crape, quickly
spread upwards until it reached the zenith. Then a few gleams of light
seemed to illuminate it very faintly, and a distant hissing noise was
heard.

A dead calm surrounded the ship, which lay like a log on the water, and
the crew, knowing that nothing more could be done in the way of
preparation, awaited the bursting of the storm with uneasy feelings. In
a few minutes its distant roar was heard,--like muttered thunder. On it
came, with a steady continuous roar, as if chaos were about to be
restored, and the crashing wreck of elements were being hurled in mad
fury against the yet unshattered portions of creation. Another second,
and the ship was on her beam-ends, and the