English crew.
Jack and his two young officers, having loaded their pistols and stuck
them in their belts, and fastened on their swords, made their appearance
also on deck. The Frenchmen seemed to be watching them; but if they had
any sinister intentions, the preparations which Jack had made to oppose
them compelled them for the moment to keep quiet.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

HURRICANE--CAPTURED BY PIRATES.

Jack had not had much experience with the West India climate; but he had
heard enough of the signs preceding a hurricane to make him somewhat
anxious about the state of the weather. Gradually a thick mist seemed
to be overspreading the sky, while there was not a breath of wind
sufficient to move a feather in the rigging.

"We shall have the wind down upon us presently," he observed to Hawke.
"We will clue up every thing, and strike the topgallant-masts. If the
wind does not come it will be no great harm, as it will only give the
Frenchmen something more to do; and if it does come, and we have all
this gear aloft, it will be carried away to a certainty."

The order was immediately issued, and the hands flew aloft to carry it
out. Before, however, the canvas was all secured, a white line of foam
was seen rushing towards the ship, extending on either side as far as
the eye could reach. On it came, rising in height, while a loud roar
burst on the ears of the crew.

"Down for your lives, men, down!" shouted Jack, as the ship, struck by
the furious blast, heeled over.

Some obeyed the summons and slid down on deck in time; but others, who
did not hear the order, remained aloft, many in their terror clinging to
spars and shrouds, unable to move. Over heeled the stout ship. The
masts like willow-wands bent, and then, snapping in two, were carried
away to leeward. The lower yards dipped in the water, and most of those
upon them were torn away from their grasp, while others were hurled to a
distance from the ship. For a few minutes she lay helplessly on her
beam-ends, then happily feeling the power of her helm, which was put up,
the canvas at the same time being blown away, her head paid off, and
righting herself she flew before the gale. In vain the poor wretches
who had been hurled into the water shrieked for help. No human help
could reach them! In a few minutes they were left far behind, while the
ship, lately so trim and gallant, was hurried on, too likely to meet
that destruction which overtook many