Part 16 (2/2)

”I tell you what I think about one thing, Neale,” he whispered in the latter's ear. ”There is going to be a change in the weather-and a big change-within a very short time.”

”For the worse?” asked Neale, startled.

”It couldn't be for the better,” replied Luke. ”We've had a perfect day; but the end of it is going to be squally. And I've heard that even at this time of year, which is not the hurricane season, the weather in this part of the Caribbean can be distinctly nasty.”

CHAPTER XII

THE ISLAND REFUGE

Those streaks on the horizon foreboded evil weather, as Luke had feared.

None of the party on the _Isobel_ had ever seen a storm gather so quickly. In an hour the waves were white-capped and those blue streaks of wind had reached the zenith.

Behind it, from the west, rolled up a pallid hedge of mist, back of which the stronger wind growled like a leashed dog. Lightning fluttered across the face of the coming cloud-bank. Then the crackle of thunder rose louder and louder.

Luke and Neale, even Mr. Howbridge, worked at the stalled motor. They took turns whirling the fly-wheel. There was no more response than as though they had stood up and commanded the tempest to recede.

Fortunately the children did not understand the threat of the elements.

Tess and Dot were not often affrighted by a thunderstorm. And Ruth and Agnes could not wholly understand what was coming.

There was not the usual hush which is so often noted before the striking of such a tempest. In this case the wind and lightning drew on with equal velocity; but the rain stayed behind. On and on the forefront of the storm came, as savagely persistent as a pack of wolves, and then leaped upon its prey with a force that seemed to crush every object on the surface of the sea.

The only craft in sight was their own _Isobel_. The waves flattened about her for a considerable s.p.a.ce, and for some moments, as though the wind came from directly overhead.

”Get inside, every one of you girls!” commanded Mr. Howbridge, shouting at the top of his voice. ”Close that cabin door and keep it closed.”

The little ones were already below. Ruth went down the steps, shouting back over her shoulder:

”You'd all better come too. You can do nothing here.”

Agnes scuttled behind her, terrified indeed. They jammed shut the slide.

Almost the next instant the thunder of the rain on the deck deafened those in the cabin. The two boys and the lawyer lay under a tarpaulin which shed a portion of the deluge. But they could not distinguish each other's speech.

It seemed as though the very weight of the rain must sink the motor-boat. It thundered on the deck and foamed in the c.o.c.kpit. Such a cloudburst none of them had ever seen, or even dreamed of.

In ten minutes the rain pa.s.sed. It roared on toward the east like the rattle of a giant drum corps. But the darkness and wind remained. It was impossible to see more than a few yards about the _Isobel_. Islands, and all, had disappeared. But the launch was moving now-racing into the east, like the rain, and with all the force of the wind and sea astern.

Neale crawled out from under the tarpaulin and climbed up on a cus.h.i.+on seat out of the knee-deep water. That water was roaring out through the vents, or seeping into the lower bilge. When Luke got up he made straight for the pump and began to work it. It sucked immediately, and the water spurted through the hosepipe.

”My goodness, boys!” shouted Mr. Howbridge, ”what are we going to do?”

”Keep our eyes open for an island,” shouted back Neale.

”Hope we'll find one,” was the muttered reply.

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