"What mean these preparations?" inquired the earl; "for I profess to be better landsman than seaman."
"And it requires no unskilled hand to sail the ship of state, my lord, of which, I hear, you are an able officer," said the captain, in a complimentary manner. "This southwest wind, which has held us so fair, is dying away to make room for a tight blow here away from the northwest, which I have been watching suspiciously. There heaves a cloud now towards the zenith; you can scarcely discern its outline for the haze, my lord; but you will find no stars in that direction, and the horizon looks thick and black."
"The wind has quite gone," said the earl, raising his palm to catch the air.
"It is now time to make ready to welcome its successor. Turn up all hands, Howel. Take in every stitch of light sail!"
In a few moments the yacht was stripped to her two topsails, spanker, and jib.
"Put a single reef in the topsails, Mr. Howel," ordered the captain, as he saw that the dark cloud rose rapidly in the northwest.
"It is done, sir!" reported the officer, a few moments afterward.
"Very well! Secure the guns with single lashings only, and have the decks clear for action!" was the next order.
"Action, captain?" exclaimed the earl, who had witnessed these preparations with interest.
"It is best to be prepared, if that dark cloud rolling towards us should chance to conceal a foe in its bosom. A dark cloud, as well as a dark eye, sometimes hides dangers, my lord."