Dave had followed Captain Marshall on deck, but now he went below once more, to learn how Phil and Roger were faring. He found them both out in the cabin, having come from their staterooms in alarm.
"Is it very bad outside?" questioned the senator's son.
"Not yet, but I am afraid it is going to be," was Dave's reply.
"Phew, that certainly means business!" burst out Roger, as another flash of lightning was followed by a heavy peal of thunder. "I hope the ship weathers it all right."
"Captain Marshall is on deck, and he knows what he is doing," answered Dave. "I am glad I called him up," he added.
"Oh, so you called him up, did you?" came in a voice from the cabin doorway, and, turning, Dave beheld Paul Shepley there. The mate had come below to get his raincoat.
"Yes, I did," answered the country boy, boldly. Now that the truth was out, he did not mean to mince matters.
"Thought you knew more about running a ship than I did, eh?"
"I thought it was time to take in sail—and so did the captain."
"Humph! This blow isn't going to kill anybody, and we want to take all the advantage of the wind that we can. We are expected to make a quick trip, but we can't do it if we are going to haul down sail all the time."