will always heave a ship to if there is a cap fill of--"

"Double-reef the mainsail!" shouted the captain, interrupting himself,
to give an order that he saw was imperative.

"--Wind, but I believe in scudding, if you can," he added.

"Double-reef foretopsail! and look ye, Mr. Faulkner, have presenter
sheets bent on the foresail, this wind is in earnest," said his
superior, more seriously, as he jumped into the mizzen shrouds and
scanned the sea to windward again.

The gale still increased, and everything being now made snug on board
the "Sea Witch," she was run before it with almost incredible speed. It
would have been a study to have regarded the calm self-possession and
complete coolness of the young commander during this startling gale; he
never once left his post, every inch of the vessel seemed under his eye,
and not the least trifle of duty was for a moment forgotten. If
possible, he was more particular than usual that his orders in the
smallest item were strictly observed, and thus with his iron will and
strong intelligence he mastered every contingency of the hour, imparting
that indispensable confidence among his people so requisite to perfect
control. There was a firmness now expressed in the compressed lips, and
a sternness in the eye, that had not before been manifested, while there
was a breathing of authority in his smallest order.

In an instant more the scene was changed! With terrific violence the
vessel flew up in the wind with the rapidity of thought, and a report
like that of a score of cannons fired at the same moment, was heard
above the roar of the winds.

"What lubberly trick is this?" shouted the captain, fiercely, to the old
tar who held his station at the wheel, and on whose faithfulness
everything depended.

"The wheel rope has parted on the larboard side, your honor," was the
reply.

"That is no man's fault," said his commander. "Bear a hand here, Mr.
Faulkner, and bend on a fresh wheel rope. Be lively; sir, be lively!"

The sails had been blown from the bolt-ropes, in an instant of time, and
the vessel now lay wallowing in the sea. Now once more was seen the
power of discipline and the coolness of the young commander, whose word
was law in that floating community. Fifty voices were raised in shouts
above the storm, suggesting this expedient and that, but that agile
figure, which we have already described, sprang lightly into the mizzen
shrouds, and with a voice that was heard b