CHAPTER II.--A FEARFUL EXPERIENCE.
Once more the Ocean's Pride was spanking along before a delightful breeze with the dark blue sea sparkling in the sunlight around her, and Mother Carey's chickens, as sailors call the stormy petrels, flitting past and re-past her stern.
Seamen say these birds are always the forerunners of storm and tempest. This is not so, but in this case the prophecy turned out to be a correct one. A fearful hurricane or tornado struck the ship, and raged for days and days.
There was no such thing as battling against it. So it ended in their being driven far away to the west into unknown or little frequented seas. I am wrong in saying it ended. For the end was of a far more terrible nature than anything I ever heard of before, or ever experienced.
On the fourth day the tempest seemed almost played out, and the sky was brightening somewhat in the east.
The skipper was rubbing his hands and saying to his mate:
"I think we shall be able to shake a reef out before long."
"So do I," was the cheery answer.
Both the young fellows M'Vayne were below at present, and the vessel was battened down.
"Oh, look, look!" cried the mate, seizing the skipper by the arm and pointing fearfully towards the east.