No matter how smooth the sea may be, or how sweetly all natur' may smile, don't you believe it; take in every inch o' canvas at once.'" "That was a queer explanation, Tom." "Aye, but it was a true one, as you shall see before long." As I looked out upon the calm sea, which lay like a sheet of glass, without a ripple on its surface, I could scarcely believe what he had said.

But before many minutes had passed I was convinced of my error.
While I was standing talking to my messmate, the captain rushed on deck, and shouted: "All hands tumble up! Shorten sail! Take in every rag! Look alive, boys, look alive." I was quite stunned for a moment by this, and by the sudden tumult that followed.

The men, who seemed never to take thought about anything, and who had but one duty, namely, to _obey orders_, ran upon deck, and leaped up the rigging like cats; the sheets of nearly all the principal sails were clewed up, and, ere long, the canvas was made fast to the yards.

A few of the smaller sails only were left exposed, and even these were close-reefed.

Before long a loud roar was heard, and in another minute the storm burst upon us with terrific violence.