Not a breath of wind was stirring, and even the sea seemed to be settling down a little.

At least, so we judged from the motion, for we could not see either it or the sky; everything was as black as pitch.

We heard the sailors, however, engaged in rigging guide ropes fore and aft, and battening down the hatches with extra tarpaulins by the light of lanterns.

Also they were putting ropes round the boats and doing something to the spars and topmasts.
Presently Bastin joined us, having, I suppose, finished his devotions.
"Really, it is quite pleasant here," he said.

"One never knows how disagreeable so much wind is until it stops." I lit my pipe, making no answer, and the match burned quite steadily there in the open air.
"What is that ?" exclaimed Bickley, staring at something which now I saw for the first time.