ss. Now, however, the sun was sinking
toward the horizon like a ball of dull red copper, and the western sky,
instead of being clear as previously, was heavy with black clouds that
were banking up and threatening to obscure the sun ere it set.
Overhead, too, deep violet clouds made their appearance, tinged here and
there to lurid red and orange by the rays of the fast-disappearing
luminary. The air, moreover, felt dull and heavy, and carried a
peculiar odour not unlike brimstone. This singular condition of the
atmosphere was not without its effect on the men, who felt listless and
disinclined to work. A sense of impending peril seemed to be hanging
over all. The wind, too, was gradually dying away, and came fitfully
and at intervals in hot, sulphurous puffs. The sea, which had been
sparkling in thousands of tiny wavelets in the rays of the sun, began to
assume a dark and oily appearance; and a long swell was beginning to
make itself felt, causing the sails, as they drooped against the masts,
to flap noisily with a sound like the crack of an arquebuse.

Gradually the sky grew blacker and more overcast, and the sea assumed
the appearance of ink. The five ships of the squadron were all well
within sight of one another, and lay motionless save for their uneasy
heaving to the swell which was now fast-rising. Having lost
steerage-way, they were "boxing the compass", that is, were heading
first in one direction and then in another, their bows slowly swinging
until they pointed in various directions. Cavendish was on deck,
looking anxiously at the sky, and presently he gave the order to all
hands to shorten sail, and hailed the ship lying nearest to him to do
the same.

The other vessels were lying too far away for a hail to carry, and there
was no wind to lift the signal flags if hoisted; but the commodore was
relieved to see the remainder of the fleet follow his example. In a few
moments the canvas of the whole squadron was seen coming heavily down or
being rolled up on the yards; and before very long all the ships were
either under bare poles or being snugged down with everything secured
ready for any emergency.

Cavendish, however, still remained very anxious: and he had cause enough
for his anxiety. For his squadron had only recently come through a
heavy action, and their timbers were strained; masts had been merely
secured in a temporary manner, and the necessary stays and fore and aft
preventers had not yet