The Hot Swamp | Page 9

to his subordinate, "I'm going to rest a
while. See that you keep an open eye for squalls and pirates. Both are
apt to come down on you when you least expect them."
But neither squalls nor pirates were destined to interfere with the
Penelope during the greater part of that voyage. Day after day the skies
were clear, the sea comparatively smooth, and the winds favourable.
Sometimes they put ashore, when the weather became stormy and
circumstances were favourable. On such occasions they lighted
camp-fires under the trees, the ruddy light of which glowed with a
grand effect on the picturesque sailors as they sat, stood, or reclined
around them.
At other times they were obliged to keep more in the open sea, and
occasionally met with traders like themselves returning home, with
whom, of course, they were glad to fraternise for a time and exchange
views.
Once only did they meet with anything like a piratical vessel, but as
that happened to be late in the evening, they managed, by plying the
oars vigorously, and under the shade of night, to escape a second

encounter with those robbers of the sea.
Thus, in course of time, the length of the great inland sea was traversed,
the southern coast of what is now known as France was reached, and
the captain's prophecy with regard to a prosperous voyage was thus far
fulfilled.
CHAPTER FOUR.
THE STORM AND WRECK.
It was near daybreak on the morning of a night of unclouded splendour
when the mate of the Penelope aroused his chief with the information
that appearances to windward betokened a change of some sort in the
weather.
"If there is a change at all it must be for the worse," said Arkal, raising
himself on one elbow, rubbing his eyes, yawning, and then casting a
glance over the side where the rippling foam told that the wind was
increasing. Raising his eyes to the windward horizon, he threw aside
the sheepskin blanket that covered him and rose up quickly.
"There is indeed a change coming. Rouse the men and reduce the sail,
mate. Bestir you! The squalls are sudden here."
The orders were obeyed with promptitude. In a few minutes the sail
was reduced to its smallest size, and all loose articles about the vessel
were made fast.
"You expect a gale, captain?" asked Bladud, who was aroused by the
noise of the preparations.
"Ay--or something like one. When a cloud like that rises up on the
horizon there is usually something more than a puff coming. You had
better keep well under the lee of the bulwarks when it strikes us."
Bladud's nautical experience had already taught him what to expect and
how to act in the circumstance that threatened. Standing close to the

side of the ship, he laid hold of a stanchion and looked out to windward,
as most of the crew were by that time doing. Captain Arkal himself
took the helm.
The increasing daylight showed them that the bank of cloud was
spreading quickly over the sky towards the zenith, while a soft hissing
sound told of the approaching wind. Soon the blackness on the sea
intensified, and white gleams as of flashing light showed where the
waves were torn into foam by the rushing wind.
With a warning to "hold on fast!" the captain turned the vessel's head so
as to meet the blast. So fierce was it that it cut off the crests of the
wavelets, blowing the sea almost flat for a time, and producing what is
known as a white squall. The sail was kept fluttering until the fury of
the onset was over, then the wind was allowed to fill it; the Penelope
bent down until the sea began to bubble over the lee bulwarks, and in a
few moments more she was springing over the fast rising waves like a
nautical racehorse.
Every moment the gale increased, obliging the mariners to show but a
corner of the sail. Even this had at last to be taken in, and, during the
whole of that dismal day and of the black night which followed, the
Penelope drove helplessly before the wind under a bare pole.
Fortunately the gale was favourable, so that they were enabled to lay
their course, but it required all the skill and seamanship of Captain
Arkal to prevent their being pooped and swamped by the waves that
rolled hissing after them as if hungering mightily to swallow them up.
To have the right man in the right place at such times of imminent
danger is all-important, not only to the safety of the craft, but to the
peace of mind of those whose lives are in jeopardy. All on board the
little vessel during that hurricane felt much comforted