even deeper than before.

"There's thunder too," said George. A few low rumbles were heard, while
off to the southwest appeared some random flashes of lightning.

"Where's the storm?" demanded Fred. "So far nothing has happened. This
stillness and darkness are getting on my nerves."

"Wait," counseled Grant, and scarcely had he spoken when there was a
blinding flash of light. Almost at the same instant came a deafening
peal of thunder. The sky directly overhead seemed to open up and down
came the water in torrents.

Unconsciously the four boys drew closer together, so startled were they
by this unexpected happening. It seemed as if the brig must have been
struck but evidently it had escaped, for a second later there was
another flash and report and the bare masts could be seen outlined
against the inky sky.

Flash followed flash in quick succession. The whole ocean was lighted up
by the constant blaze of light. Peal after peal rattled overhead with a
noise so violent that it seemed as if the whole earth must be shaken.
After a few moments the deluge of rain abated but the thunder and the
lightning continued incessantly. So far there had not been a breath of
air stirring; the _Josephine_ lay motionless on the surface of the
ocean and seemed to the people on board of her an excellent and easy
target for the fury of the elements.

Several times one of the boys started to speak but his words were lost
in the roar of the storm. They were almost blinded by the lightning but
no one thought of going below. This was their first experience in a
tropical storm and they were frightened. They would not have been
ashamed to admit it either. They did not care to go to their bunks, for
every one wanted to be on deck where he could see what was going on.

The lightning played all about the ship and it seemed a miracle that she
was not hit. It seemed to run up and down the masts, across the yards
and over the anchors, but thus far the _Josephine_ had escaped. All
this time there had been no wind; the brig lay motionless and powerless
to move.

Suddenly there was a blinding flash and a ripping, tearing sound
accompanied by the smell of burnt wood. So severe had been the blaze of
light that every one was temporarily blinded by it and for a few seconds
everything looked red. A moment later, however, when the crew had
recovered somewhat from the shock a great shouting and running to and
fro began.

"We're hit," cried Grant, the fi