there is a real and far
more serious cause for apprehension, in which all have a share--officers
as men. A fog is before their eyes, apparently drifting towards them.
It has curtained the other vessel, spreading over her like a pall, and
will surely do the same with their own. They perceive, also, that it is
not a fog of the ordinary kind, but one that portends storm, sudden and
violent. For they are threatened by the _black squall_ of the Pacific.

Enough in its name to cause uneasiness about the safety of their ship;
though not of her are they thinking. She is a strong vessel, and can
stand the sea's buffetings. Their anxiety is more for their shipmates,
whose peril all comprehend. They know the danger of the two vessels
getting separated in a fog. If they should, what will be the fate of
those who have gone aboard the barque? The strange craft had been
signalling distress. Is it scarcity of provisions, or want of water?
In either case she will be worse off than ever. It cannot be shortness
of hands to work her sails, with these all set! Sickness then? Some
scourge afflicting her crew--cholera, or yellow fever? Something of the
kind seems probable, by the lieutenant sending back for the doctor--and
the doctor only.

Conjecturing ends, and suddenly. The time for action has arrived. The
dark cloud comes driving on, and is soon around the ship, lapping her in
its damp murky embrace. It clings to her bulwarks, pours over her
canvas still spread, wetting it till big drops clout down upon the deck.

It is no longer a question of the surgeon starting forth on his errand
of humanity, nor the cutter returning to the becalmed barque. There
would be no more likelihood of discovering the latter, than of finding a
needle in a stack of straw. In such a fog, the finest ship that ever
sailed sea, with the smartest crew that ever vessel carried, would be
helpless as a man groping his way in dungeon darkness.

There is no more thought of the barque, and not much about the absent
officers. Out of sight, they are for a time almost out of mind. For on
board the frigate every one has enough to do looking after himself and
his duties. Almost on the instant of her sails being enveloped in
vapour, they are struck by a strong wind, coming from a quarter directly
opposite to that for which they have been hitherto set.

The voice of her commander, heard thundering through a trumpet, directs
all canvas to be instantly ta