e of the gale, the good fortune to make a rich
prize. Standing in towards the fleet, however, the sea ran so high that
the prize foundered. The gale continued to increase, and the whole
squadron was thus separated, every ship shifting for herself. At length
all got into the Downs.

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

HURRICANE IN THE BRITISH CHANNEL--SIR GEORGE ROOKE TAKES GIBRALTAR--
SEA-FIGHT OFF MALAGA.

On reaching England once more our hero had great hopes of being able to
get on shore to visit his own family, as well as to make inquiries about
Elizabeth, of whose arrival he had not yet heard. He had actually
obtained leave to go on shore, and was proposing to set off the
following day, when he experienced the truth of the old saying, "There
is many a slip between the cup and the lip."

On the 26th of November, while his ship lay in the Downs--the weather
having hitherto been fine--about eleven o'clock, the wind began to blow
most violently from the West South West. John Deane was the officer on
watch. He had been walking the deck for some time, looking out on
either side--for those were days when it was necessary for seamen to
have their eyes about them--when he observed in the quarter from whence
the wind was coming, bright flashes of lightning. Soon the sea appeared
through the gloom covered with a sheet of foam. Every instant the
lightning increased in vividness, and now loud roars of thunder
reverberated through the sky. Clouds came rushing on in vast masses.

"Call the captain!" said Deane to the midshipmen of the watch. "We are
going to have a night of it, and he's not the man to remain in his bed
at such a time. All hands on deck!" he shouted immediately afterwards.

The crew came rushing up from below with a speed which would have
astonished any one not knowing how quickly sailors can put on their
clothes, many of them, indeed, bringing them up in their hands and
dressing on their way.

"Strike topgallant-masts!" he cried out. "Mr Grummit, range another
cable for the best bower-anchor. We shall want every anchor out
to-night."

Scarcely had these judicious orders been given, when the captain himself
came on deck and took the command, next ordering the top-sail-yards to
be lowered and the top-masts to be housed.

Now, with a loud roar, the gale burst upon the fleet, which lay at
anchor in that exposed situation. The sea rising rapidly, torn up by
the furious tempest, caused the ships to pitch