came, to the main-topsail yard, where it glided out
to the extreme end. Here it rested for some seconds, as if it had not
made up its mind what next to do. Presently back it came to the mast,
and darted out to the lee yardarm. It had not yet finished its journey.
Once more gliding back, it ascended the mast, when it made its way by
the main-topmast stay, on to the foremast and there went gliding
backwards and forwards along the yard.

"I wish it would come down on deck, and then we might have a chance of
catching it," said Tom. "I have read somewhere that a man going aloft
with a bucket, clapped it over the light, and brought it down a
prisoner. It is a sort of gas which is driven about through the air
until it finds something to rest on. Why it goes moving up and down in
that curious way I don't know, nor does anybody else, I believe. I wish
the doctor were on deck,--he would tell us."

"Shall I call him?" asked Archie.

"I don't think he would thank you," said Tom. "Let him rest in quiet;
perhaps before he can get on his clothes the fire will have
disappeared."

Tom was right. In another minute the luminous ball, gathering itself
into a point, shot upwards and vanished.

"That's a good sign," they heard Green observe to the first lieutenant;
"we shall have the gale breaking before long."

Before the watch was out the hurricane had sensibly decreased, showing
that the master was right in his prognostication. The sea continued,
however, to tumble the ship about terribly until the morning dawned,
when the clouds began to disperse, and as the sun rose they appeared to
fly before his burning rays. By noon the sky was perfectly clear, when,
an observation having been taken, the commander determined to run under
the lee of one of the Bonin Islands, which were sighted shortly
afterwards. Steam had been got up, and the vessel made rapid way,
though she continued to roll considerably, moved by the now glass-like
swell, which still came in from the north-east, showing that, although a
calm rested on the waters where she was, a storm raged in another part
of the ocean.

Several islands were now seen rising out of the water on the port bow,
and as the _Dragon_ drew near trees could be distinguished on the hills,
showing that they were not as barren as they appeared to be at a
distance. Rounding the southern end of one of them, she went on at half
speed, feeling her way with the lead until she opened a shelter