I yawned repeatedly as I stood at the wheel, and my eyes were sore for want of sleep.
But there was something in the aspect of that tremendous, stooping, quarter-sphere of cloud abeam of us, throwing a darkness most sinister to behold on half the sea, and vomiting quick lances of blue fire from its caverns, while now and again the thunder rolled solemnly, which was formidable enough to keep me wide awake.
It was growing darker every moment: already the sun's beams were obscured, though that portion of the great canopy of cloud which lay nearest to the luminary carried still a flaming edge.
A dead calm had fallen, and the ship rested motionless on the water.
The two men remained for a short time on the main-yard, and then came down, leaving the sail much more secure than they had found it. Cornish despatched his breakfast, and the boatswain came to me.
"Do you see the long-boat now, sir?"
"No," I replied; "she's hidden in the rain yonder. By Heaven! it is coming down!"
I did not exaggerate; the horizon was grey with the rain: it looked like steam rising from a boiling sea.
"It 'll keep 'em busy bailing," said the boatswain.
"Hold on here," I cried, "till I get my oilskins."