in the stagnant air.

Gradually, however, a subtle and portentous change took place. The
darkness slowly became less intense, giving place to a lurid ruddy
twilight that appeared to emanate from the clouds, for by imperceptible
degrees they grew visible and became streaked and blotched with patches
of red that suggested the idea of their being on fire within, the
incandescence showing through here and there in the thinner parts. This
red light grew and spread until the whole surface of the sky was aglow
with it; and it was an uncanny experience to stand on the stern grating,
close up to the taffrail, and look forward along the brig's deck to her
bows, and note every detail of the craft and her equipment showing
distinctly and black as ebony against that weird background of red-hot
sky and its ruddy reflection in the polished surface of the water.

Leslie scarcely knew what to make of this lowering and portentously
illuminated sky. He had never seen anything quite like it before; but
he instinctively felt that it foreboded mischief; and he accordingly
kept a sharp eye on the barometer. It was still falling, and now with
considerably greater rapidity than at first. At eight bells in the
second dog-watch he came to the conclusion that the time for action had
arrived; and before allowing the watch to go below he ordered everything
to be clewed up and furled, leaving only the fore staysail standing.
Then he settled himself down to wait doggedly for developments,
determined not to leave the deck until a breeze had come from
_somewhere_. For he had a suspicion that when it arrived, it would
prove to be something stronger than ordinary; and he wanted to satisfy
himself as to the manner in which his jury rig would withstand such an
outburst as appeared to be impending.

Hour after hour went by, however, and nothing happened; until at length
Miss Trevor, whose stay on deck had been unusually prolonged by
curiosity--and perhaps a dash of apprehension--bade Leslie good night
and retired to her cabin, the port of which he particularly requested
her to keep closed, despite the stifling heat. At length the strange
and alarming glow in the heavens faded as imperceptibly as it had come,
until the darkness had become as intense as before; and Leslie was
beginning to think that after all nothing was going to happen, when the
whole scene became suddenly illuminated by a vivid flash of sheet
lightning that for an infinitesimal frac