t is
really to their advantage! The sun sunk in an angry glow of ruddy hue
which suffused the whole eastern sky, and cast an ensanguined tint on
the foaming crests of the fast-rising waves. Then, as if it had gone to
hurry on the storm, there rushed up from the dark bank of clouds
numerous detached masses, which flew rapidly across the sky, one chasing
the other in their headlong speed.

Don Hernan and his officers saw the storm coming, but they were anxious
to get as good an offing as possible before it had time to burst on
them, and therefore kept the ship under all the canvas she could carry.
On she flew, right into the eye of the rising tempest, so it seemed,
though as yet the wind held to the southward. The topgallant masts bent
and twisted like wands; still the captain would not allow the sails to
be taken in. The wind whistled more and more shrilly through the
rigging; each sea that rose seemed to increase in height, and to strike
the bows with greater force as the ship, frantically it seemed, forced
her onward way, while white driving foam flew in dense masses over her
forecastle, and sprinkled with its lighter showers the greater part of
the deck. A few stars came out and shone brightly overhead, but they
were quickly obscured by the gathering clouds; the darkness increased,
till nothing could be seen on either hand but the dark, tumbling seas
with their white foaming crests.

Pedro Alvarez had been watching the signs of the weather with anything
but a satisfied look. "We shall have it down upon us, Don Hernan,
before long," he remarked, going up to the captain. "If it catches us
with all this canvas spread, some of our masts will go, I fear."

"We may hold on yet for some time, I hope," was the answer. "I have not
forgotten yet the look of that rocky coast."

"Nor I either; and I therefore would try to keep my sticks to beat it
off," muttered the first lieutenant, as he turned away. It appeared,
however, that he was over-cautious; for some time longer there was no
alteration in the weather.

"After all, I am in hopes that the squall will pass over, and by the
time we have made good our westing we may get a favourable change of
wind," observed the captain, as the first lieutenant approached him. "I
am going below; call me, should anything occur."

"You will not have long to wait," said Pedro Alvarez, bluntly.

He was right. The captain's head was scarcely below the companion
hatch, when the s