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remained； and he had not the slightest idea where we were in that
great ocean studded with atolls and islands。
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 weather moderated。
That night during dinner 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 came down into the saloon very white and shaken； I
thought； and I asked him to have a nip of whisky to warm him up；
and to celebrate our good fortune in having run out of the wind。
He took the bottle and； to my alarm； poured out a full half
tumbler of spirit； which he swallowed undiluted in two or three
gulps。
〃That's better！〃 he said with a hoarse laugh。 〃But man； what is
it you are saying about having run 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 mirthless fashion； as he answered：
〃Oh； that thing！ That's the passengers' glass。 I told the
'steward to put it out of gear so that you might not be
frightened； 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 somewhere between 27 degrees and 28
degrees。
〃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 knew it was coming and that's why he left the ship。
Pray as you never prayed before；〃 and again he stretched out his
hand towards the whisky bottle。 But I stepped between him and it；
shaking my head。 Thereon he laughed for the third time and left
the cabin。 Though I saw him once or twice afterwards； these were
really the last words of intelligible conversation that I ever
had with Captain Astley。
〃It seems that we are in some danger；〃 said Bastin； in an
unmoved kind of way。 〃I think that was a good idea of the
captain's； to put up a petition； I mean； but as Bickley will
scarcely care to join in it I will go 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 barometer？ Humphrey； I believe he had been drinking。〃
〃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 forward with the other
stores。〃
〃That's nothing；〃 I replied； 〃as doubtless he has a supply of
his own； rum； I expect。 We must take our chance。〃
Bickley nodded； and suggested that we should go on deck to see
what was happening。 So we went。 Not a breath of wind was
stirring； and even the sea seemed to be settling down a little。
At least； so we judged from the motion； for we could not see
either it or the sky； everything was 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 something to the spars and topmasts。
Presently Bastin joined us； having； I suppose； finished his
devotions。
〃Really； it is quite pleasant here；〃 he said。 〃One never knows
how disagreeable so much wind is until it stops。〃
I lit my pipe； making no answer； and the match burned quite
steadily there in the open air。
〃What is that？〃 exclaimed Bickley； staring at something which
now I saw for the first time。 It looked like a line of white
approaching through the gloom。 With it came a hissing sound； and
although there was still no wind； the rigging began to moan
mysteriously like a thing in pain。 A big drop 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 coming； that's all。 Coming as
though the devil had kicked it out of 'ell。〃
Bastin seemed inclined to remonstrate at this sort of language；
but we pushed him down the companion and followed； propelling the
spaniel Tommy in front of us。 Next moment I heard the sailors
battening 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 we were all lying in a heap on the cabin
floor with poor Tommy on top of us。 The cyclone had struck the
ship！ Above the wash of water and the screaming of the gale 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 came a rending；
crashing noise。 The masts； or one of them； had gone； and by
degrees we righted。
〃Near thing！〃 said Bickley。 〃Good heavens； what's that？〃
I listened； for the electric light had temporarily gone out；
owing； I suppose； to the dynamo having stopped for a moment。 A
most unholy and hollow sound was rising from the cabin floor。 It
might have been caused by a bullock with its windpipe cut； trying
to get its breath and groaning。 Then the light came on again and
we saw Bastin lying at full length on the carpet。
〃He's broken his neck or something；〃 I said。
Bickley crept to him and having looked； sang out：
〃It's all right！ He's only sea…sick。 I thought it would come to
that if he drank so much tea。〃
〃Sea…sick；〃 I said faintly〃sea…sick？〃
〃That's all；〃 said Bickley。 〃The nerves of the stomach acting
on the brain or vice…versathat is； if Bastin has a brain；〃 he
added sotto voce。
〃Oh！〃 groaned the prostrate clergyman。 〃I wish that I were
dead！〃
〃Don't trouble about that；〃 answered Bickley。 〃I expect you
soon will be。 Here； drink some whisky； you donkey。〃
Bastin sat up and obeyed； out of the bottle； for it was
impossible to pour anything into a glass； with results too
dreadful to narrate。
〃I call that a dirty trick；〃 he said presently； in a feeble
voice； glowering at Bickley。
〃I expect I shall have to play you a dirtier before long； for
you are a pretty bad case； old fellow。〃
As a matter of fact he had； for once Bastin had begun really we
thought that he was going to die。 Somehow we got him into his
cabin； which opened off the saloon； and