he captain, having several times
examined his barometer, came on deck. "All hands, shorten sail!" he
shouted out, and while the boatswain was turning up the crew he ordered
a signal to be made to the corvette to follow his example.

The topmen swarmed on the yards, the idlers were at their stations.

"Be smart about it, lads!" he shouted. In a few minutes every sail was
furled, with the exception of a closely-reefed fore-topsail, braced
sharp up. Royal and top-gallant yards were sent down, and the masts
struck.

The captain made another signal to the corvette to hasten her
proceedings, but her commander showed but little disposition to do so.

"What's Hemming making such a fuss about?" he was reported to have said.
"Why, the sea is as smooth as a mill-pond, and if a strong breeze does
spring up on a sudden, which I have my doubts about, we shall have
plenty of time to trim sails I should think. I ought to know how to
take care of my own ship, and don't require to be dictated to by a young
fellow who wore long clothes when I was a lieutenant."

Captain Hemming, in the meantime, as he walked the deck of the frigate,
ever and anon cast a vexed glance at the corvette.

"Babbicome will be having his sticks about his ears if he does not look
sharp," he muttered. "Obstinate old donkey, were it not for those with
him I should be glad to see him receive the lesson he'll get to a
certainty."

Still, not a breath of air stirred the dog-vanes--the ocean remained as
glass-like as before, but thick clouds appeared in the north, and in a
short time rain began to fall. It soon ceased, and a stillness like
death succeeded the pattering sound of the falling drops. On a sudden
the dark clouds seen before in the distance covered the sky, except in
the zenith, where an obscure circle of imperfect light was visible,
while a dismal darkness gathered round the ships. The midshipmen of the
frigate, and several others, had begun to think the captain
over-cautious.

"One would suppose that he had changed places with old Babbicome,"
observed Norris. "See, they are letting all stand on board the
corvette."

"No; they are not, though. See! there's hands aloft, shorten sail!"
exclaimed Higson. "Good reason, too--they must be smart about it. Look
there!" He pointed to the north-east, where a long, white line was seen
sweeping on towards the ship, and rapidly increasing in height and
thickness, while a roar like that of distant