them."

Denham did not wish to appear to refuse his friend, at the same time he
resolved not in any way to push himself forward. The conversation
appeared to be doing Fitz Barry good. Though severely injured by the
thrust of a pike in his side, and a blow on his head, which had knocked
him down, the doctor assured Captain Falkner that he did not consider
the boy's life in any peril.

Captain Falkner and Mr Evans were holding a consultation on the deck.
Directly afterwards the latter shouted, "All hands on deck, and shorten
sail."

The men came rapidly tumbling up from below, some looking round
astonished at hearing the order, seeing that the dog-vane was still
hanging up and down the rigging. They sprang immediately aloft and the
sails were rapidly furled.

"Starboard the helm," shouted the lieutenant, gazing round the horizon
as he did so. "Closely reef the fore-topsail," he added; "man the
fore-topsail braces."

The fore-topsail was the only sail now set. At that instant a dark line
was seen sweeping rapidly over the water. As it approached it seemed to
rise as it were above the surface and break into feathery-topped seas.
On it came. A fierce blast struck the ship on the starboard side, and
she heeled over till the guns on the other side dipped in the water.
Quickly recovering herself, however, the fore-topsail being braced sharp
up, her head "paid off" before the wind. Once more the topsail was
squared, and away she flew before the wind. Wonderful was the change.
A few minutes before the sea appeared as smooth as polished glass; now
it was one mass of broken waves, leaping and dancing madly around. On
flew the frigate. The captain and master went below to examine the
chart, and to see the direction in which she was driving. It might have
availed them little, however, for it seemed impossible to steer her
during the fierce gale which blew in any other direction than directly
before it. On she went, the wind rapidly increasing; the seas rose
higher and higher, and in a short time a fierce hurricane was raging.
The stern-ports were secured, the hatches were battened down, and every
preparation made to prepare her for the worst. Probably in a short time
she would not be able to run before the gale.

"We have a clear sea before us," observed the captain to the master, as
they leaned over the chart to which the former pointed; "that, unless
the wind shifts, gives us a better hope of escaping. The shi