ance;
but that a house could be bodily whirled away, was going so far beyond
anything that came within their experiences as to be wholly disbelieved.

But Jack knew now as he looked round that this and more was possible. He
felt the whole vessel leap and quiver as the gust struck her, and this
with only one bare pole standing, and he would have been scarce
surprised now had the ship herself been lifted bodily from the water. As
to walking along the deck, it would have been impossible. No man could
have forced his way against the wind, and Jack felt that were he to
attempt to move from the sheltered spot where he was standing he would
be taken up and carried away as if he were but a figure of straw.
Presently Mr. Hoare came down from the poop and dived into the cabin,
making a sign to the lads to follow him. He stood there for a minute
panting with his exertions.

"The captain has sent me down for a spell," he said. "He and the first
and Jack Moore are all lashed to the wheel. Sometimes I thought that
all four of us, wheel and all, would have been blown right away. Well,
lads, this is a cyclone, and you may live a hundred years and never see
such another. You had better stop in here, for you might get blown right
away, and can be of no good on deck. There is nothing to do. The wind
has got her and will take her where it likes; we can do nothing but keep
her straight. There will be a tremendous sea up before long. The water
at the upper part of the bay is shallow, and we shall have a sea like
yours at the mouth of the Thames, Jack,--only on a big scale.

"Our lives are in God's hands, boys; don't forget to ask for help where
alone it can be obtained. Now I must be going up again. Steward, give me
a glass of weak grog and a biscuit. Do you know, lads, my sides fairly
ache. Once or twice I was pressed against the wheel with such force that
I could scarcely breathe, and if I had been pinned there by an elephant
butting me I could not have been more powerless. That is right, steward,
get me my oil-skin and sou'-wester from the cabin. You had better get a
kettle on over the spirit-stove, so that we can have a cup of hot cocoa
when we like. Now then, I am ready for the fray again!" and buttoning
himself closely up Mr. Hoare went on deck again.

Jack Moore was the next to come down. "Captain's orders, steward. I am
to have a glass of grog. Well, young gentlemen, this is a gale and no
mistake. I have been at sea over thirty ye