At first he was hopeful that it was a sail, but as he saw it grow he knew it to be a cloud.

Then he hurried toward the house, quite sure a storm was coming.

Knowing how the southern seas were swept by hurricanes, it was surprising that none had come sooner, and he ran as fast as he could for the shelter of the house.
Robert made the door just in time.

Then the day had turned almost as dark as night and, with a rush and a roar, wind and rain were upon him.
Evidently the slaver had known those regions, and so he had built a house of great strength, which, though it quivered and rattled under the sweep of the hurricane, nevertheless stood up against it.
The building had several small windows, closed with strong shutters, but as wind and rain were driving from the west he was able to open one on the eastern side and watch the storm.

It was just such a hurricane as that which had wrecked the shattered schooner.