It was now growing rapidly darker, and the moaning sound was increasing in intensity. The air seemed to thicken perceptibly moment by moment, and it was hot and moist. Then the first gust struck. It was not quite a squall, but was strong enough to cause the Valkyrie to slide off her course several points.
"If you're going to stay on deck, you'd better get on oil skins."
Mr. Lakewood had come from the main cabin unnoticed until he spoke. He was clad in oil skins which made him look like a typical longshoreman.
"All right, we'll get them," Bob replied as he started for the cabin closely followed by Jack.
By the time they had reached the locker room, the boat was pitching rather violently and they had to watch their steps on the way back. Once more on deck they were surprised to see how rough a sea the wind had kicked up in so short a time. Huge rollers, their crests tipped with white foam, bore down on them from the north-east, and it seemed that the boat was rushing through the water at a terrific pace. Each moment the wind seemed to be increasing in strength. It came in gusts at short intervals, and each one seemed stronger than the one before. And now huge drops of rain began to pelt down, and in less than five minutes it was raining in torrents. It was now so dark that they could see hardly the length of the ship.
Mr. Lakewood was standing at the foot of the stairway leading to the bridge, and, as they made their way to his side, they could see that he was worried.
"You think it's a cyclone?" Bob shouted
"No, I don't think so, but it's going to be some blow," his uncle shouted back.
Just then a loud whirring sound rose above the noise of the wind, coming from the rear, and both boys looked at their uncle.
"That's the propeller," he told them. "The way she's pitching now it'll be out of the water about half the time. But don't you get scared," he added. "The Valkyrie is seaworthy and she'll outride the storm all right."