assist them," he said; "we haven't a moment to
lose."

The jib only remained set. Some of the crew had begun to grumble at
having so much pulling and hauling, with apparently no object.

"What's the use of furling sails in a dead calm? we shall be after
having to set them again, as I hope we shall get the breeze before
long," exclaimed Dan Connor.

An active seaman was Dan, though he could seldom see much further than
his own nose.

"Nebber fear dat," cried Pompey, "we get de wind 'tiff and 'trong as you
and I like de grog, Dan--de mate hab um wedder eye open as 'wide as de
captain--see what coming--look out, man--what say to dat?"

Those standing near him turned their glances over the larboard side,
towards the south-west, the vessel then lying with her head to the
north-west, where they saw a long line which had now assumed the
appearance of a vast foaming wave, while at the same time a loud hissing
roar reached their ears. The mate shouted for another hand to come to
the helm. Dan Connor sprang aft at the mate's call; but scarcely had he
grasped the spokes of the wheel, than the wind with a furious rush
struck the vessel. Down she heeled, while a deluge of spray flew over
her. For an instant it seemed as if she was irretrievably gone, but the
jib happily standing, she drew ahead, and feeling her helm, round she
spun, and, righting as suddenly as she had heeled over, away she flew
before the hurricane. The young mate drew his breath.

"Gerald, go below and tell your father that we're all to rights and no
damage done. We had a narrow squeak for it, though; but don't say
that--it may trouble your sister," said Owen.

Gerald went into the cabin with the satisfactory intelligence. On
entering he found Norah clinging to the sofa, which was placed
athwart-ships, at the after end of the cabin. She looked pale and
anxious; happily, the captain had escaped being thrown out of his cot
when the vessel had been hove on her beam-ends.

"How goes it, Gerald?" he asked.

"All right, father," answered Gerald; "the stout ship is behaving
beautifully. Thanks to Mr Massey, we were well prepared for the squall
when it struck us--though it's my belief if we'd had our canvas set it
would have been all over with the _Ouzel Galley_. We are now scudding
along under bare poles at a rate which will soon carry us into Waterford
harbour, if the wind holds as it is."

"Little chance of that, I'm afraid," observed the captai