e heard." Then aloud, "Look here, my lads; I shall try and run the
boat high upon the sands at the top of some breaker. Then it will be
every man for himself. Never mind the boat--that is sure to be
destroyed--but each man try to save his arms and ammunition; and if the
two wounded men are in difficulties, of course you will lend a hand.
Now then, one more order: The moment I say, `Down with the sail,' drag
it from the mast, and two oars are to be out on either side. The wind
will catch them and send us along, and I want them to give a few dips to
get on the top of a roller to carry us in."

"Ay, ay, sir."

"That's all."

His words in that terrible stillness sounded to me as almost absurd, for
the sea was still calm, and save that sighing in the air of which I have
before spoken, there was no further sound; and at last I said to him--

"Do you really think we shall have a hurricane?"

"Look at the sky, my lad," he replied; "and take this as a lesson to one
who will have men's lives depending upon his knowledge and skill some
day. If ever there were signs of an awful night in the Chinese seas, it
is now. Hark at that!"

"Guns! The _Teaser_!" I exclaimed excitedly.

"Heaven's artillery that, my lad," he said solemnly. Then in a whisper,
"Shake hands! I'll help you all I can, Herrick, but heaven knows how we
shall be situated soon."

I felt a strange sensation of awe creep over me, as he gripped my hand
warmly, and then snatched his away, and sat up firm and rigid, turning
his head to the east as all now became suddenly black--so dark that I
could hardly see the men before me and the sail. But still we glided
rapidly on over the long smooth rollers, on and on toward the islands,
which lay a short distance from the mainland.

"It will be all guess work," whispered Mr Brooke. "I am keeping her
head as near as I can guess for the channel, but the breakers will soon
be our only guide."

Then came the heavy roar again, which I had taken for guns, but it did
not cease as before, when it sounded like a sudden explosion. It was
now continuous, and rapidly increasing.

"Thunder?" I asked in a low voice.

"Wind. Tremendous. It will be on us in five minutes."

But even then it seemed impossible, for we were still sailing swiftly
and gently along towards the channel between the islands, and the roar
like distant thunder or heavy guns had once more ceased.

"We shall get to the shore first after all," I