maid
of what is going to happen, and to get everything stowed in your cabin.
I'm just going to turn the hands up to shorten sail."

"I wish I could be of as much use there as I hope to be alongside an
enemy; but as I cannot, I will go where I can do some good." Saying
which, the colonel returned to the cabin.

"All hands on deck to shorten sail," sang out the master; and ere a
minute had passed, the senior mate and the watch below were on deck.

The fore-clue-garnets were manned, and the foresail was quickly clewed
up, and the men flying aloft, it was securely furled. The topsails were
next lowered on the caps, whence they bulged out like big balloons,
about to fly away with the masts.

"Man the fore and main tops'il clew-lines and bunt-lines," sung out
Bowse, laying his hand on the main. "Away with it, my lads."

The topsails were clewed up, the reef tackles hauled out, and the hands
aloft lying in, in as short a time almost as it has taken to describe.
Both sails were close reefed, and again sheeted home. The fore and aft
mainsail was then close reefed, the jib hauled down, and fore-topmast
staysail hoisted; the royal yards were also sent down, and the brig
then, under her smallest working canvas, was prepared to meet the
tempest, in whatever way, or from whatever quarter it might come.

CHAPTER TEN.

There is a strong similarity between the aspects of physical nature and
those exhibited by man, as an individual, and in the aggregate.

Before any outbreak or great commotion, from the disorganised condition
of the moral body, there are observed signs of discontent, murmurings,
and complaints, fierce looks and threats--these, at length, disappear,
and people seem to be seized with a sudden apathy and indifference,
which is as quickly cast aside, and all is rage, havoc, and confusion.
So, likewise, before the coming of a storm, clouds are seen gathering in
the horizon, murmurs and growls are heard, then the wind dies away, and
a perfect calm, for a short time, succeeds the fury of the tempest, and,
in both instances, the more perfect the calm, the more is the subsequent
outbreak to be feared.

The wind had gradually died away, till the sea became smooth as glass,
and rose and fell in gentle undulations, which made the vessel roll from
side to side, and caused every timber and bulkhead to groan and creak.

It appeared not to have been absolutely necessary to shorten sail so
soon; but as there was a dea