oo inquisitive. I once asked the doctor o' a ship that
question, and says he to me, 'Tom,' says he, 'a barometer is a glass
tube filled with quicksilver or mercury, which is a metal in a soft or
fluid state, like water, you know, and it's meant for tellin' the state
o' the weather.'

"'Yes, sir,' I answers, 'I know that well enough.'

"'Then why did you ask?' says he, gettin' into a passion.

"'I asked what was the meanin' o' the _word_ barometer, sir,' said I.

"The doctor he looked grave at that, and shook his head. 'Tom,' says
he, 'if I was to go for to explain that word, and all about the
instrument, in a scientific sort o' way, d'ye see, I'd have to sit here
an' speak to you right on end for six hours or more.'

"'Oh, sir,' says I, 'don't do it, then. _Please_, don't do it.'

"'No more I will,' says he; 'but it'll serve your turn to know that a
barometer is a glass for measurin' the weight o' the air, and, _somehow
or other_, that lets ye know wot's a-coming. If the mercury in the
glass rises high, all's right. If it falls uncommon low very sudden,
look out for squalls; that's all. No matter how smooth the sea may be,
or how sweetly all natur' may smile, don't you believe it; take in
every inch o' canvas at once.'"

"That was a queer explanation, Tom."

"Aye, but it was a true one, as you shall see before long."

As I looked out upon the calm sea, which lay like a sheet of glass,
without a ripple on its surface, I could scarcely believe what he had
said. But before many minutes had passed I was convinced of my error.

While I was standing talking to my messmate, the captain rushed on
deck, and shouted:

"All hands tumble up! Shorten sail! Take in every rag! Look alive,
boys, look alive."

I was quite stunned for a moment by this, and by the sudden tumult that
followed. The men, who seemed never to take thought about anything,
and who had but one duty, namely, to _obey orders_, ran upon deck, and
leaped up the rigging like cats; the sheets of nearly all the principal
sails were clewed up, and, ere long, the canvas was made fast to the
yards. A few of the smaller sails only were left exposed, and even
these were close-reefed. Before long a loud roar was heard, and in
another minute the storm burst upon us with terrific violence. The
ship at first lay over so much that the masts were almost in the water,
and it was as impossible for anyone to walk the deck as to walk along
the side of a wal