The lake was as smooth as glass, and the boat lay "like a painted ship upon a painted ocean." The members of the class looked at each other, and some of them were doubtless afraid.
"Man the peak-halyards," said Dory quietly. "Keep perfectly cool, and there is no particular hurry."
Syl and Hop went to the station indicated, but they were told to do nothing till the order was given; though the sail might as well be furled as set, so far as any use of it was concerned.
"It is coming now," said Dory, as he pointed to the New-York shore. "You can see the clouds of dust it is stirring up on the land."
A moment later, it struck the water, and the commotion could be seen.
It looked like a dense light cloud sweeping over the surface, while a roaring sound came in advance of it. Dory gave the order to let go the peak-halyards, and take in the jib.
"Now we are all right," said the skipper, as soon as the order was executed. "Here it comes. Hold on to your hats, and keep down in the boat."
The cloud swept down upon the sloop, and the squall struck her. Dory took the wheel himself. The mainsail flapped and banged with tremendous violence; but the boat was headed right into it, and no harm came from it. The water did not pile itself up into big waves at first. Almost as soon as it had come, it was over. A few moments later, Dory filled away with the mainsail: the peak still dropped, just holding wind enough to give her steerage-way.
"Is that all there is of it?" asked Archie, when the shock was over.
"That's all; but it was only a light squall, and sometimes they hold one for a much longer time. But we have not got to the end of this thing yet, for there is another behind it."