, and the man at the wheel had all
he could do to keep the schooner to her course. Sails were shifted half
a dozen times, but without making any improvement.

"The weather is certainly queer," said Grandon. "Puts me in mind of the
time I was caught in a tidal wave in the South Seas. Before the wave
struck us we had just such cuttings-up."

"I trust we don't strike a tidal wave," answered Larry. "If it was high
enough it might swamp us."

"True; but when you're on the deep blue sea, lad, you've got to take
whatever comes," replied the first mate, solemnly.

Dinner was a quiet affair for all on board, and shortly after the repast
Larry went to the forward deck, to have another chat with Luke. While
the two were talking they were joined by Captain Ponsberry; and soon the
three were conversing about old times once more.

"Do you remember the swim we once took in the Pacific?" said Larry to
Luke. "The time the sawfish smashed the boat and came after us?"

"Reckon I do," was the Yankee tar's response. "We had a lively swim fer
it, didn't we?"

"And the time we visited the island and you turned the turtles?" went on
Larry. "And do you remember that snake that chased us into the water?"

"I do, Larry. Tell you what, we've had our share of adventures. When
Admiral Dewey----What is it, captain?"

Luke broke off short and looked at Captain Ponsberry inquiringly. The
master of the _Columbia_ was gazing over the port bow in an earnest,
puzzled fashion.

"Do you see that little black cloud, Striker?"

"I do, sir!" And now Luke became all attention and so did Larry. "Kind
o' funny lookin', ain't it?"

"It is odd," answered the captain. "Do you see how it seems to be
dancing around in the sky?"

"Is it a cloud?" questioned Larry. "If so, I never saw its like before."

"I'll take a look at it through my glass," went on the captain, and sent
a sailor for the article.

The cloud came swiftly closer and they heard a most unusual roaring and
hissing. Then of a sudden the cloud seemed to dip down into the sea.
When it came up, the waters of the ocean followed, and there loomed up
before those on the ship a waterspout ten or fifteen feet thick.

"A waterspout!" cried half a dozen in concert.

"And a mighty powerful one, too," said the captain. "I trust it don't
come this way."

"It is coming this way!" yelled Larry. "Look! look!"

The young second mate was right, the waterspout appeared to be headed
directly for the sc