t them separately, but we could hardly hope to beat three
of them at once. We can't make her go through the water faster than she is
doing as far as I can see."

"No, every sail seems to be doing its best. There is nothing for it but to
pray either for another frigate or for more wind. I am not sure that wind
would help us, still it might."

"I think, sir," the lieutenant said, two hours later, "that one of your
wishes is going to be fulfilled. There is a cloud rising very rapidly on
the larboard bow, and from its colour and appearance it seems to me that
we are going to have a tornado."

"It will be welcome indeed," the captain said. "We have been hit ten times
in the last half-hour, and the nearest ship is not more than
three-quarters of a mile away."

Five minutes later the captain said: "It is certainly a tornado. All hands
reduce sail. Don't waste a moment, lads; it will be on us in three
minutes."

In a moment the vessel was a scene of bustle; the men swarmed up the
rigging, urged to the greatest exertions not only by the voices of their
officers but by the appearance of the heavens. The frigate behind held on
three or four minutes longer, then her sheets were let fly, and
immediately she was a scene of wild confusion.

"It will be on her before she is ready," the captain said grimly, "and if
it is, she will turn turtle. It is as much as we shall do to be ready."

Just as a line of white foam was seen approaching with the speed of a
race-horse, the last man reached the deck.

"I would give a great deal," the captain said, "to have time to get down
all our light spars. Get ready your small fore try-sail, and a small
stay-sail to run up on the mizzen."

A minute later the storm was upon them. A blinding sheet of spray, driven
with almost the force of grape-shot, swept over the ship, followed by a
deafening roar and a force of wind that seemed about to lift the ship
bodily out of the water. Over and over she heeled, and all thought that
she was about to founder, when, even above the noise of the storm, three
loud crashes were heard, and the three masts, with all their lofty hamper,
went over the side.

"Thank God," the lieutenant exclaimed, "that has saved her!"

All hands with axes and knives began cutting away the wreckage. At the
same time the two try-sails were hoisted, but they at once blew out of the
bolt-ropes.

"Don't you think, sir," the first lieutenant shouted, "that if we lash a
hawser to a