ng fragments of cloud, the vanguard of the
approaching tempest, rapidly increased in size and in number, while the
twisting and writhing of the great cloud masses momentarily grew more
rapid and convulsive, until it appeared as though the entire firmament
were in the throes of mortal agony, the suggestion soon becoming
intensified by the arising in the atmosphere of low, weird, moaning
sounds, that at intervals rose and strengthened into a wail as of the
spirits of drowned sailors lamenting the coming havoc. And as the
wailing sounds arose and grew in volume, sudden stirrings in the
stagnant air became apparent, first in the form of exaggerated cats'-
paws, that smote savagely upon the glassy surface of the water,
scourging it into a sudden flurry of foam, and then dying away again,
and then in sudden gusts that swept screaming past the felucca hither
and thither, sometimes high enough aloft to leave the water undisturbed,
at other times striking it and, as it were, rebounding from the surface,
leaving in its path streaks and patches of ruffled water that had
scarcely time to subside ere another gust went howling past, to leave
them more disturbed than before. These sudden scurryings of wind were
the forerunners of the hurricane itself, and only sprang up a short five
minutes before the low, hoarse murmur of the gale itself became audible.
As this sound arose I looked away to the westward,--the quarter from
which it came,--and saw, by the faint, sombre, ruddy light of the
unnaturally glowing sky, a thin white line appear upon the horizon,
lengthening and thickening as I watched, until it became a rushing wall
of foam, bearing down upon the felucca at terrific speed, while behind
it the heavens grew pitchy black, and the murmur became a low, deep
roar, and the roar grew in volume to a bellow, and the bellow rose to an
unearthly howl, and the howl to a yelling shriek, as the hurricane leapt
at the felucca--which, happily, was lying stern-on to it--and seized her
in its grip, causing the stout, close-reefed lug-sail to fill with a
report like that of a cannon, and burying her bows deep in the creamy,
hissing smother ere she gathered way, while the scud-water flew over her
in blinding, drenching sheets. For a moment, as I gripped the tiller
convulsively, I thought the little hooker was about to founder bows
first, but after a shuddering pause of a few breathless seconds of
horrible suspense, she gathered way, and in anothe