They hurried through the meal, but before they had finished they were aware of a peculiar moaning sound which seemed to be stealing over the surface of the water, and they noted that the glass had fallen five full points since they had sat down.
"She's sinking pretty fast," Jack declared, as he got up from his chair.
"Yep, I reckon it's going to be what they call a rip snorter," Bob said as he followed him from the room.
On deck, they found the crew making fast every moveable object under the direction of Pat Barney who greeted them with a cheery grin as he said "the top uv the mornin' to yer." Already a slight breeze was rippling the surface of the sea and the bank of clouds had spread until the entire sky was covered.
"You boys had better get below," Captain Ole shouted from the wheel house.
"You think there's danger?" Bob called back.
"Hope not, but you never can tell down here. This may be nothing but a hard blow and then again it may be a cyclone."
"We'd rather stay on deck if you don't mind," Bob told him and added: "Of course, we'll go below if it's your order."
"Oh, stay if you want to, but when she strikes she's apt to strike hard, and you want to be near something to cling to."
"We will," Bob assured him.