in. I don't like the look of it, sir; and have it back we shall, as
sure as there's snakes in Virginny."

"Well, so be if so be," was the safe reply of the captain. "You must
keep a sharp look out, Bareth, and don't leave the deck to call me; send
a hand down."

The captain descended to his cabin. Oswald looked at the compass in the
binnacle--spoke a few words to the man at the helm--gave one or two
terrible kicks in the ribs to some of the men who were caulking--sounded
the pump-well--put a fresh quid of tobacco into his cheek, and then
proceeded to examine the heavens above. A cloud, much darker and more
descending than the others, which obscured the firmament, spread over
the zenith, and based itself upon the horizon to leeward. Oswald's eye
had been fixed upon it but a few seconds, when he beheld a small lambent
gleam of lightning pierce through the most opaque part; then another,
and more vivid. Of a sudden the wind lulled, and the _Circassian_
righted from her careen. Again the wind howled, and again the vessel
was pressed down to her bearings by its force: again another flash of
lightning, which was followed by a distant peal of thunder.

"Had the worst of it, did you say, captain? I've a notion that the
worst is yet to come," muttered Oswald, still watching the heavens.

"How does she carry her helm, Matthew?" inquired Oswald, walking aft.

"Spoke a-weather."

"I'll have the trysail off her, at any rate," continued the mate. "Aft,
there my lads! and lower down the trysail. Keep the sheet fast till
it's down, or the flogging will frighten the lady-passenger out of her
wits. Well, if ever I own a craft, I'll have no women on board.
Dollars shan't tempt me."

The lightning now played in rapid forks; and the loud thunder, which
instantaneously followed each flash, proved its near approach. A deluge
of slanting rain descended--the wind lulled--roared again--then lulled--
shifted a point or two, and the drenched and heavy sails flapped.

"Up with the helm, Mat!" cried Oswald, as a near flash of lightning for
a moment blinded, and the accompanying peal of thunder deafened, those
on deck. Again the wind blew strong--it ceased, and it was a dead calm.
The sails hung down from the yards, and the rain descended in
perpendicular torrents, while the ship rocked to and fro in the trough
of the sea, and the darkness became suddenly intense.

"Down there, one of you! and call the captain," said Oswald. "B