Things stood so until sunset, when the haze settled down thicker than ever.

I was at the wheel, when the skipper came on deck and ordered all canvas to be stripped from her except the double-reefed main-sail and a corner of the jib.

He sung out to me to keep a sharp lookout for Hatteras Light, and then went below again.
"When I caught sight of the light, about an hour later, and reported it, it wasn't any brighter than it looked when you came on deck, a while ago, Mark, and we were heading directly for it.

When the skipper came up and looked at it he told me to 'keep her so' while he took a squint at the chart.
"He hadn't more than gone below again when there came such a gust of wind and rain, with thunder and lightning close after, as to hide the light and keep me busy for a few minutes holding the schooner up to it.
"The squall passed as suddenly as it came, and there was the light, right over the end of the flying-jib-boom, burning as steady as ever, but looking mighty blue, somehow.

I thought it was the effect of the mist, and tried to keep her headed for it.