The captain gave a sigh of relief, as the men began to descend the rigging.
"Thank God, that is safely accomplished.

Now we are in readiness for whatever may come." He dived into his cabin, and returned almost immediately.
"The glass has fallen another half inch, Mr.James," he said gravely.

"I have never but once seen it as low.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he went on, addressing the passengers, who were gathered in a group, talking in low tones and anxiously watching the wall of vapour; which now seemed to rise from the water's edge and reach far up into the sky, the circle of view extending scarce half a mile in any direction; "I must ask you to go below, at once.

The storm may strike us any moment now, and when it does come it will come heavily.

I should like the deck perfectly clear, and nothing to disturb my thoughts from the working of the ship." Reuben had not gone aloft, as he was called back, just as he began to ascend the shrouds, by the first mate, and ordered to go round the cabins and fasten the dead lights securely.