So heavy was the gust that Sheldon, still on his feet, seized hold of his man-horse to escape being blown away.

The _Jessie_ was blotted out, and a strange ominous sound arose as multitudinous wavelets struck foaming on the beach.

It was like the bubbling of some colossal cauldron.

From all about could be heard the dull thudding of falling cocoanuts.

The tall, delicate-trunked trees twisted and snapped about like whip-lashes.