Part 6 (1/2)

I asked him whether we could not steam back to our proper course, but he answered that to do so he would have to travel dead in the eye of the gale, and he doubted whether the engines would stand it Also there was the question of coal to be considered However, he had kept the fires going and would do what he could if the weatherdinner which now consisted of tinned foods and whisky and water, for the seas had got to the galley fire, suddenly the gale dropped, whereat we rejoiced exceedingly The captain caht, and I asked him to have a nip of whisky to war run out of the wind He took the bottle and, to my alarm, poured out a full half tumbler of spirit, which he sed undiluted in two or three gulps

”That's better!” he said with a hoarse laugh ”Butrun out of the wind? Look at the glass!”

”We have,” said Bastin, ”and it is wonderfully steady About 29 degrees or a little over, which it has been for the last three days”

Again Astley laughed in a ! That's the passengers' glass I told the steward to put it out of gear so that you htened; it is an old trick

Look at this,” and he produced one of the portable variety out of his pocket

We looked, and it stood sorees

”That's the lowest glass I ever saw in the Polynesian or any other seas during thirty years It's right, too, for I have tested it by three others,” he said

”What does it mean?” I asked rather anxiously

”South Sea cyclone of the worst breed,” he replied ”That cursed Dane kneas co and that's why he left the shi+p Pray as you never prayed before,” and again he stretched out his hand towards the whisky bottle But I stepped between hihed for the third tih I saw him once or twice afterwards, these were really the last words of intelligible conversation that I ever had with Captain Astley

”It seeer,” said Bastin, in an unood idea of the captain's, to put up a petition, I o into the cabin and do so myself”

Bickley snorted, then said:

”Confound that captain! Why did he play such a trick upon us about the baro”

”So do I,” I said, looking at the whisky bottle ”Otherwise, after taking those precautions to keep us in the dark, he would not have let on like that”

”Well,” said Bickley, ”he can't get to the liquor, except through this saloon, as it is locked up forith the other stores”

”That's nothing,” I replied, ”as doubtless he has a supply of his own; rum, I expect We ested that we should go on deck to see as happening So ent Not a breath of as stirring, and even the sea seeed from thewas as black as pitch We heard the sailors, however, engaged in rigging guide ropes fore and aft, and battening down the hatches with extra tarpaulins by the light of lanterns Also they were putting ropes round the boats and doing so to the spars and top, I suppose, finished his devotions

”Really, it is quite pleasant here,” he said ”One never kno disagreeable sono answer, and the match burned quite steadily there in the open air

”What is that?” exclai which now I saw for the first tilooh there was still no wind, the rigging began todrop of water also fell from the sides into my pipe and put it out Then one of the sailors cried in a hoarse voice:

”Get down below, governors, unless you want to go out to sea!”

”Why?” inquired Bastin

”Why? Becos the 'urricane is coh the devil had kicked it out of 'ell”

Bastin seee, but we pushed hi the spaniel To the hatch with hurried blows, and when this was done to their satisfaction, heard their feet also as they ran into shelter

Another instant and ere all lying in a heap on the cabin floor with poor Tommy on top of us The cyclone had struck the shi+p! Above the wash of water and the screaale we heard other mysterious sounds, which doubtless were caused by the yards hitting the seas, for the yacht was lying on her side I thought that all was over, but presently there ca noise The hted