34 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

Ben replied, and then he hastened on deck to see that
the vessel was snugged down for what he knew must be
coming.

When the noonday meal was served the wind had
increased until it was necessary to call all hands to aid in
shortening sail, and no one thought of eating dinner at
such a time.

At three o’clock the wind ceased almost entirely, and -
heavy banks of black clouds rolled up until the gloom
was like that of twilight.

“It’s coming now, and from a different quarter,” Mr.
Bean muttered to himself as he listened for the captain’s
commands.

Ben remained silent and motionless, understanding that
he was powerless at this moment, for everything possible
had been done to prepare the little craft for the fury of
the gale, and in which direction to look for the threatened
danger no one could tell.

One, two, three minutes of anxious suspense, and then
the wind, which had been westerly, burst from the east
with terrible fury, striking the brig dead ahead, catching
all the sails aback, and bringing her up with a shock as
if she had struck a reef.

During what to the anxious ones seemed like many
moments, the spars bent and groaned under the enormous
pressure as if about to be splintered into fragments ;
both Ben and the first officer sprang to assist the man
at the helm in swinging the wheel hard over, and the
brig began slowly to obey the rudder.