But, as you see, everything has already been done.

You and I have not been working, but the sailors have been busy in taking off sail, and getting down all the upper spars.

We are ready for the worst, now; just as we were when we had opened the passage for our escape, and we felt fairly confident--although we might meet with many dangers, we had a good chance of getting safely away." "There are the danger signals, Lindsay," the captain said, as a pale light suddenly shone out above.
Looking up, Harry saw a ball of fire on the main-mast head.
Presently, this seemed to roll down the mast, till it reached the top-sail yard; then it broke into two, and these rolled out until they remained stationary, one at each end of the yard.

Harry had never seen this phenomenon before.
"What is it ?" he asked Fairclough, in an awed voice.
"They are often seen, before the outburst of a severe tempest.

Of course, they look like balls of phosphorus; but in reality they are electric, and are a sign that the whole atmosphere is charged with electricity.