They strolled about for the greater part of the night, and in the early morning returned to the ship.
"They turn night into day here," said Jack, "and no wonder, for it must be unpleasantly hot in the burning sun."
"You are right, it is," replied Job, "but you'll find it a lot hotter where you are going to, and if you tackle Barry Tuxford's pearling business you'll be as near to a certain place as it is possible to get in this world."
"A nice look-out, anyway," replied Jack, "but we shall not back down."
After leaving Colombo a couple of days there were signs of a storm, and Captain Seagrave knew what that meant in this latitude. Once he had given up all hope of saving the "Golden Land," but she pulled through, although it was a narrow squeak. He had no desire for another such experience. Anxiously he scanned the sky, and saw great black masses rolling and chasing each other like angry billows. There was a peculiar moaning sound in the air like spirits in torment; he had heard it before, and dreaded it. The heat was oppressive, and Jack thought the ship was as hot as an oven. He, too, watched the sky, but was not aware of the danger. He saw the skipper on the bridge and went towards it.
"There's something brewing up there," said Job shouting down to him.
"Rough weather, eh?"
"Yes, we're in for it."
"We have had no occasion to grumble so far," replied Jack, "and we can hardly expect to get through without some kind of a rough and tumble."
Blacker and blacker grew the clouds, and the roaring sound increased in volume.