nly the wind ceased and the
topsails flapped against the masts. There was a confused roaring sound
astern, and a broad white line came along at race-horse speed towards
the vessel.

"Get below, lads," Mr. Atherton said as he led the way, "or you will be
drenched in a moment."

They had but just reached the cabin when there was a deafening roar
overhead, and almost at the same moment the vessel started as if struck
by a heavy blow.

"Rain and wind together!" Mr. Atherton shouted in reply to the chorus of
questions from those below. "Now, all you have got to do is to make
yourselves comfortable, for there will be no going up again for some
time."

For five minutes the tremendous downpour continued, and then ceased as
suddenly as it commenced. The wind had dropped too; and the silence
after the uproar was startling. It lasted but a few seconds; then the
wind again struck the ship with even greater force than before,
although, as she had not lost her way, the blow was less felt by those
below. In five minutes the captain came below with his oil-skin coat and
sou'-wester streaming with wet.

"I have just looked down to tell you," he said cheerfully, "that
everything is going on well. The first burst of these gales is always
the critical point, and we can congratulate ourselves that we have got
through it without losing a spar or sail--thanks to our having had
sufficient warning to get all snug, and to the gale striking us
gradually. I am afraid you won't have a very comfortable time of it for
the next day or two; but there is nothing to be at all uneasy about. The
gale is off the land, and we have sea-room enough for anything. Now we
have got rid of half our cargo the ship is in her very best trim, and
though we may get her decks washed a bit by and by, she will be none the
worse for that."

So saying he again went up on deck. For the next three days the gale
blew with fury. There were no regular meals taken below, for the vessel
rolled so tremendously that nothing would have remained on the plates
and dishes; and the passengers were forced to content themselves with
biscuit, with an occasional cup of coffee or basin of soup that the cook
managed to warm up for them. The ladies for the most part kept their
cabins, as did many of the male passengers, and the absence of regular
meals was the less felt as the majority were suffering from
sea-sickness. Wilfrid was occasionally ill, but managed to keep up, and
from time