nd
while they feasted in comfort inexpressible--to the surprise, no doubt,
of surrounding gulls and puffins--Benjamin Vane once again gave
utterance to the opinion that it was the most glorious and altogether
astonishing state of things that he had ever heard or dreamed of since
the world began!

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

A GALE AND A NARROW ESCAPE.

This is a world of alternations. We need not turn aside to prove that.
The calm with which the voyage of our discoverers began lasted about
four days and nights, during which period they advanced sometimes slowly
under oars, sometimes more or less rapidly under kites--if we may so
express it--according to the state of the wind.

And, during all that time the discipline of two and two--at watch, or at
sleep, if not at work--was rigidly kept up. For none knew better than
Captain Vane the benefit of discipline, and the demoralising effect of
its absence, especially in trying circumstances. It is but just to add
that he had no difficulty in enforcing his laws. It is right also to
state that the women were not required to conform, even although they
were accustomed to hard labour and willing to work as much as required.
In all three boats the bow was set apart as the women's quarters, and
when Toolooha, Oblooria or Tekkona showed symptoms of a desire to go to
sleep--(there was no retiring for the night in these latitudes)--a
blanket stretched on two oars cut their quarters off from those of the
men, and maintained the dignity of the sex.

But soon the serene aspect of nature changed. Grey clouds overspread
the hitherto sunny sky. Gusts of wind came sweeping over the sea from
time to time, and signs of coming storm became so evident that the
Captain gave orders to make all snug and prepare for dirty weather.

"You see, lads," he said, when the three boats were abreast, and the
kites had been furled, "we don't know what may happen to us now. Nobody
in the world has had any experience of these latitudes. It may come on
to blow twenty-ton Armstrongs instead of great guns, for all we know to
the contrary. The lightning may be sheet and fork mixed instead of
separate for any light we've got on the subject, and it may rain whales
and walruses instead of cats and dogs; so it behoves us to be ready."

"That's true, father," said Benjy, "but it matters little to me, for
I've made my will. Only I forgot to leave the top with the broken peg
and the rusty penknife to Rumty Swi