e. Though I
was sure that Jim had never touched the sugar, I was thankful that the
captain and the rest were convinced of his innocence.

Before noon that day a dark bank of clouds was seen coming up from the
southward. In a short time several black masses broke away from the
main body, and came careering across the sky.

"Away aloft and shorten sail," cried the skipper. "Be smart, lads!"

We hurried up the rigging, for there was no time to be lost.

"Two reefs in the fore-topsail! Furl the main-topsail! Let fly
topgallant sheets!"

These orders came in quick succession. The captain, aided by the mate,
was meantime lowering the mainsail. He at first, I believe, intended to
heave the brig to, but, before the canvas was reduced the gale struck
her--over she heeled--the topgallant sails, with their masts, were
carried away just as Jim and I were about mounting the rigging, he the
fore and I the main, to furl them; the mainsail, only half lowered,
flying out, nearly knocked the mate overboard. I had got down on the
weather side of the main-topsail yard to assist the hands on it, when
the straining canvas broke loose from our grasp, and at the same instant
the topgallant rigging, striking the two men on the lee yardarm, hurled
them off into the foaming ocean.

To lower a boat was impossible; we had not strength sufficient as it was
to clear away the topgallant masts, and to hand the topsails. A grating
and some spars were hove to them by the mate, who then, axe in hand,
sprang aloft to assist us. None too soon, for we could do nothing but
cling on to the yard till the topgallant rigging was cleared away. The
men on the foreyard were more successful, and I saw Jim gallantly using
his knife in a fashion which at length cleared away the wreck and
enabled them to secure the sail. The mate succeeded also in his object,
and we were expecting them to assist us in attempting to furl the
main-topsail, when the captain, seeing that we were not likely to
succeed, calling us down, ordered the helm to be put up and the yards
squared away, and off we ran before the fast-increasing gale, leaving,
we feared, our two shipmates, the carpenter and Grimes, to perish
miserably.

CHAPTER NINE.

I EXPERIENCE THE PERILS OF THE SEA.

The _Good Intent_ ran on before the increasing gale. The fast-rising
seas came rolling up astern, threatening every instant to poop her, for,
having a full cargo, she was much deeper in the w