great disfavour, and kept looking anxiously to see whether they had dispersed. But the creatures kept on steadily in the wake of the ship, and turned neither to right nor left, by so much as an inch. Steadily on the track of the Caprice they held, and when night fell, and the stars and the moon rose, they were still dimly to be seen, pursuing their silent way.

"What an odd superstition that is of the sailors!" observed a gentleman at the supper-table in the saloon. "Which superstition particularly? for all seafaring men are superstitious, I think," replied a lady.

"That the appearance of those dolphins is the forerunner of a storm," said the gentleman.

"There is not much sign of any storm in that lovely sky," was the remark.

Harty heard the talk. He had learned, during his short experience at sea, how sudden are the changes of weather. He went quietly on deck, while the other passengers were chatting around the table. The captain and one or two of his officers stood together, anxiously scanning the horizon. Overhead the blue sky and bright stars were still visible; but slowly creeping up, from where the sky and ocean met, came a small, dark cloud, hardly bigger than a man's hand at first. It grew rapidly, and seemed fast overspreading the tranquil space, where the moon had lately shone so bright. A moaning sound, scarcely like the wind, came faintly to the ear. The sailors were busy with sails and ropes, "making all snug," as they said. There was a hushed sense of dread and expectation all around. "A storm is brewing," said Harty to himself.

CHAPTER XXIII.

IN THE OPEN BOAT.

BEFORE morning the storm broke.

The black clouds had spread, and quite blotted out the bright stars and blue sky. The rain poured in torrents, the wind howled through the shrouds of the ships. The thunder growled, as if threatening worse to come.

Forked lightning then split the dark rift of clouds; and, as it fell, for one instant it lighted up the tossing, foaming, angry sea, that boiled and surged all around.

Louder crashed the thunder overhead, and more swiftly came the lightning, and fiercer and wilder roared the winds.

The poor ship struggled bravely on, now borne aloft on the crest of a billow, as on a mighty hill, now plunged into a foaming waste of waters, struggling as in a whirlpool, from which it was never again to rise.

Then would come booming a heavy wave, which crashed against her sides, and the Caprice shuddered, like a live thing which had received a death-blow. Yet still she kept bravely on.

But the darkness grew, the wind raved more wildly, and the crash of thunder mingled with the roar of the

I was as if all the lomons had om'ered o estroy the gallant vessel, and he nerca ligitur arond vas to light them to their wor

Yene in the ship slept that night. The accid

e down in their berths, nos of nem acced the bark hours, without taking of heat lear Joening lawned, but the storm had ice c is the eye could reach was a gloomy be

"

V

saloon, and had even penetrated the berths, where many a poor trembling lady passenger sat shivering in fear. Two men were

Another and another wave followed.

swept overboard. The ladies screamed, and clung to anything near them, to avoid being carried away by the flood, which had swamped everything around them, and mounted nearly to their knees.

Then came the order for fastening down the hatches, to keep out the water.

Alas! what a change from a few days past! Instead of the gay laughter, the singing, the music, and the pleasant chat, here were a terrified company, confined below decks, lighted only by a glimmering lamp; deafened by the awful crash of the waves overhead, as they thundered upon the vessel, with a noise like the discharge of cannon; all around the wailing and howling of the wind, which increased every moment.

Sickness was added to their miseries, for the motion of the ship, violently pitching to and fro, caused the most terrible suffering even to the strongest; and some serious hurts were inflicted by the force with which they were thrown against one another, while heavy pieces of furniture becoming dislodged, were more than once hurled upon them. So deafening was the din, it was almost impossible for one speaking to be heard. A lady who sat by her husband's side had with difficulty made him understand her question.

"Where is the boy, young Winwood? I have not

seen him."

"He was on deck

"Nor I," rejoined her husband. ast night, but I have not seen him since."