onception of the set and
force of the Atlantic currents and the heave of the sea in a blow. But
his studies had not given him more than a rudimentary knowledge of
meteorology and the laws of storms. A gale was a gale to him, and he
knew that it would usually change its direction as a clock's hands will
in moving over the dial; and if, by chance, it should back around to
its former point, he prepared for heavier trouble, with no reference to
the fluctuations of the barometer, which instrument to him was merely a
weather-glass--about as valuable as a rheumatic big toe.

So, in the case we are considering, not knowing that he was caught by
the southern fringe of a St. Lawrence valley storm, with its center of
low barometer to the northwest and coming toward him, he hove to on the
port tack to avoid Cape Cod, and drifted to sea, shortening sail as the
wind increased, until, with nothing set but a small storm-mainsail, he
found himself in the sudden calm of the storm-center, which had
overtaken him. Here, in a tumultuous cross-sea, fifty miles off the
shore, deceived by the light, shifty airs and the patches of blue sky
showing between the rushing clouds, he made all sail and headed west,
only to have the masts whipped out as the whistling fury of wind on the
opposite side of the vortex caught and jibed the canvas.

It was manifestly a judgment of a displeased Providence; and, glad that
the hull was still tight, they cut away the wreck and rode out the
gale,--now blowing out of the north,--hanging to the tangle of spar and
cordage which had once been the foremast and its gear. It made a fairly
good sea-anchor, with the forestay--strong as any chain--for a cable,
and she lay snug under the haphazard breakwater and benefited by the
protection, as the seas must first break their heads over the wreckage
before reaching her. The mainmast was far away, with all that pertained
to it; but the solid, hard-pine jib-boom was still intact, and not one
of the sixteen dories piled spoon-fashion in the four nests had been
injured when the spars went by the board. So they were content to
smoke, sleep, and kill time as they could, until the gale and sea
should moderate, and they could rig a jury-foremast of the wreck.

But before they could begin,--while there was still wind enough to curl
the head of an occasional sea into foam,--a speck which had been
showing on the shortened horizon to windward, when the schooner lifted
out of the hollo