That very evening the
sky gave signs of a change of weather. The wind began to moan in the
rigging, white crests rose on the summits of the seas, which increased
rapidly in size as they rolled tumultuously around them. All the canvas
was closely reefed, when the gale came down upon the schooner. She
stood bravely up to it on her course till it increased in strength, the
lightning darting from the clouds with a vividness, and the thunder
rattling and crashing with a fury which no one on board had ever before
experienced. Sometimes so intense was the heat of the electric fluid as
it passed round and about them, that they expected to be actually
scorched by it if they happily escaped being struck dead. The rain all
the time came down in torrents, leaking through the deck and half
filling the vessel, which was also letting in the water at every seam.
They had thus not a moment for rest, for they soon found it necessary to
keep the pumps going all the time. At length the gale ceased; but it
left them in a deplorable condition, with the leaks much increased and
their sails in tatters. All the canvas had been expended, and it seemed
impossible to repair them, till they bethought them of the monkey-skins
in the hold; and as soon as the wind fell they were lowered down, and
all hands turned to for the purpose of mending them with this novel
contrivance.

"We shall do very well now," exclaimed Adair, when once more they were
set. "But my friend Queerface does not seem quite to understand the
joke of seeing his brothers and sisters stretched out there before him,
and I should say feels remarkably uncomfortable in his own skin lest we
should some day think it necessary to make use of his hide in the same
way."

For three or four days they ran on to the northward, when down came
another gale upon them, which gave every sign of being heavier even than
the first.

"I will have no man's life exposed unnecessarily to this fearful
lightning," exclaimed Murray, as flash after flash darted vividly around
them.

Night had just come on. Between the intervals of the flashes the
darkness was such as could be felt. Adair attempted to expostulate, and
the rest would gladly have disobeyed orders; but Murray was firm, and
insisted on being left alone as before.

"Well, my dear fellow, mind you don't go to sleep," observed Adair, as
with the crew, Queerface, and the two parrots, he dived down into the
noisome little cabin.

Hour