the seas.

The hurricane itself, in its blind fury, had assisted in the
construction of this last barrier.

It was fortunate that the proximity of the two walls had prevented the
mass of wreck from falling to the bottom. This circumstance gave the
barricade greater height; the water, besides, could flow under the
obstacle, which diminished the power of the waves. That which passes
below cannot pass over. This is partly the secret of the floating
breakwater.

Henceforth, let the storm do what it might, there was nothing to fear
for the sloop or the machinery. The water around them could not become
agitated again. Between the barrier of the Douvres, which covered them
on the west, and the barricade which protected them from the east, no
heavy sea or wind could reach them.

Gilliatt had plucked safety out of the catastrophe itself. The storm had
been his fellow-labourer in the work.

This done, he took a little water in the palm of his hand from one of
the rain-pools, and drank: and then, looking upward at the storm, said
with a smile, "Bungler!"

Human intelligence combating with brute force experiences an ironical
joy in demonstrating the stupidity of its antagonist, and compelling it
to serve the very objects of its fury, and Gilliatt felt something of
that immemorial desire to insult his invisible enemy, which is as old as
the heroes of the _Iliad_.

He descended to the sloop and examined it by the gleam of the lightning.
The relief which he had been able to give to his distressed bark was
well-timed. She had been much shaken during the last hour, and had begun
to give way. A hasty glance revealed no serious injury. Nevertheless, he
was certain that the vessel had been subjected to violent shocks. As
soon as the waves had subsided, the hull had righted itself; the anchors
had held fast; as to the machine, the four chains had supported it
admirably.

While Gilliatt was completing this survey, something white passed before
his eyes and vanished in the gloom. It was a sea-mew.

No sight could be more welcome in tempestuous weather. When the birds
reappear the storm is departing. The thunder redoubled; another good
sign.

The violent efforts of the storm had broken its force. All mariners know
that the last ordeal is severe, but short. The excessive violence of the
thunderstorm is the herald of the end.

The rain stopped suddenly. Then there was only a surly rumbling in the
heavens. The storm ceased with th