what are you staring at? Don't
you see it means rain? Look yonder, too. Bah! It's of no use to tell
you, boy. You've never been to sea. You've never had to keep your
weather-eye open. See that bit of silvery cloud yonder over Rigdon Tor?
And do you notice what a peculiar gleam there is in the air, and how
the flies bite?"

"Yes--yes, I see all that, father."

"Well, it's rain coming, my boy. There's going to be a thunderstorm up
in the hills before many hours are past. I'm not a clever man, but I
can tell what the weather's going to be as well as most folk."

"I'm glad of it, father, if it will please you."

"Please me, boy? I shall be delighted. To-morrow morning the salmon
will be running up the river again, and we may hoist the signal for
help. I say, you don't think Jack Lawrence has gone yet?"

"No, father," said Nic; "I do not."

"Why, Nic?--why?" cried the old sailor.

"Because he said to me he should certainly come up and see us again
before he went."

"To be sure; so he did to me, Nic. I say, my boy, I--that is--er--
wasn't I a little bit crusty this morning to you and poor old William
Solly?"

"Well, yes; just a little, father," said Nic, taking his arm.

"Sorry for it. Change of the weather, Nic, affects me. It was coming
on. I must apologise to Solly. Grand old fellow, William Solly. Saved
my life over and over again. Man who would die for his master, Nic; and
a man who would do that is more than a servant, Nic--he is a friend."

CHAPTER EIGHT.

THE CAPTAIN'S PROPHECY.

Before many hours had passed the Captain's words proved correct. The
clouds gathered over the tors, and there was a tremendous storm a
thousand feet above the Point. The lightning flashed and struck and
splintered the rugged old masses of granite; the thunder roared, and
there was a perfect deluge of rain; while down near the sea, though it
was intensely hot, not a drop fell, and the evening came on soft and
cool.

"Solly, my lad," cried the Captain, rubbing his hands, "we shall have
the fall roaring before midnight; but don't sit up to listen to it."

"Cert'n'y not, sir," said the old sailor.

"Your watch will begin at daybreak, when you will hoist the signal for
Captain Lawrence."

"Ay, ay, sir!"

"And keep eye to west'ard on and off all day, to try if you can sight
the frigate."

"Ay, ay, sir!"

"And in the course of the morning you will go quietly round and tell the
men to rendezvous h