rag of canvas upon her, she sprang away before the hurricane like a
sea-gull.

Terrible indeed is the situation of those who are compelled to "scud
under bare poles," when He who formed the great deep, puts forth His
mighty power, causing them to "stagger and be at their wits' end." For
hours the _Foam_ rushed wildly over the sea, now rising like a cork on
the crest of the billows, anon sinking like lead into the valleys
between. She was exposed to double danger; that of being cast upon one
of the numerous coral reefs with which the Pacific in some parts
abounds, or being "pooped" and overwhelmed by the seas which followed
her.

During this anxious period little was said or done except in reference
to the working of the ship. Men snatched sleep and food at intervals as
they best might. At length, after two days, the gale began to abate,
and the sea to go down.

"It was sharp while it lasted, captain, but it seems to have done us
little harm," said Will Osten, on the evening of the second day.

"True," said the captain heartily; "we'll soon repair damages and make
all snug.--Is there much water in the hold, Mr Cupples?"

The mate answered gloomily that there was a good deal.

It must not be supposed that Mr Cupples' gloominess arose from anxiety.
Not at all. It was simply his nature to be gloomy. If it had been his
duty to have proclaimed the approach of his own marriage, he would have
done it as sadly as if it had been the announcement of his death. His
thoughts were gloomy, and his tones were appropriate thereto. Even his
jokes were grave, and his countenance was lugubrious.

"It is gaining on us, sir," added Mr Cupples.

"Then get all the spare hands to work with buckets immediately," said
the captain, "and send the carpenter here; we must have the leak
discovered."

"Yes, sir," sighed Mr Cupples, as if he had given way to despair;
nevertheless, he went off actively to obey the order.

"A strange man that," said the captain, turning to Will; "he is a
capital seaman, and a kind-hearted, honest fellow, yet he is melancholy
enough to throw a man into the blues."

"He and I get on famously notwithstanding," said Will, with a laugh.
"See, he is running aft--with bad news I fear, for his face is longer if
possible than--"

"Leak's increasing, sir," said the mate hurriedly; "we must have started
a plank."

This seemed to be too true. All hands were now plying pumps and buckets
vigorously, and every