and out.

"Why, Mr Hurry, she's seen no little service in her time, I'm thinking;
and if so be there comes a gale of wind, she'll require delicate
handling, or she'll be apt to go t'other way to what the schooner we
last took did. Now, to my mind, sir, the weather doesn't look at all
pleasant like, and I shouldn't be surprised but what we get a pretty
heavy gale of wind before nightfall."

"I think so too," said I. "There's one comfort, if we do not fan in
with the `Orpheus' again for a month to come, we've provisions enough on
board--we shall not starve."

Old Nol's prognostications were fulfilled even sooner than we expected;
a black, heavy bank of clouds came rolling up towards us; and as the
frigate's top-gallant sails, shining with peculiar whiteness against the
dark mass, sank beneath the horizon, we were pitching our bows into a
heavy sea under a close-reefed mainsail and foresail. We had made
ourselves as snug as we could, but not a moment too soon. Had there
been a trysail on board I should have set it. Even with the sail she
had on her the vessel strained very much, and sometimes I thought she
would make a perfect dip of it and go down head foremost. However, I
had done all I could do, and must await the result.

"What's the matter now?" said I to Grampus, who had gone below for a
short time.

"Why, sir, the old tub is taking in water rather faster than we are
likely to pump it out."

"We must try, however," I answered. "Man the pumps, and let's do our
best."

So to work we set. The weather was cool, and we were wet with the sea
and spray, but the exercise kept us from feeling cold. We soon found
that we made no sensible impression on the water in the hold, but yet it
was something to keep the vessel afloat. While so employed, a loud bang
saluted our ears; a heavier blast than usual had split both the mainsail
and foresail. The sails soon shivered to tatters. I could find none
with which to replace them, and there we lay, almost water-logged, at
the mercy of the winds and waves. A long November night, too, was
coming on, and I felt the very great probability that we might never be
blessed by the sight of another dawn. Grampus took it very coolly; he
had been in many similar situations; but Tom Rockets was far from happy.

"Oh, Mr Hurry," said he, as the gale rose higher and the seas tossed us
helplessly about, ever and anon deluging our decks, "what is to become
of us, sir? What will p