THE TYPHOON. Ee?

It seemed as if, with this deadly peril, Ben lost all fear ;
there was a foe now confronting him, against which he
could fight.

The raffle of spars hanging over the port side was lifted
by each succeeding wave, and hurled violently against the
brig’s hull, every shock causing her to tremble and groan,
as if she had struck a reef.

No vessel ever built could withstand the violence of
this conflict many moments, and remain uninjured. It
was absolutely necessary the danger should be averted at
once, or the voyage of the Progressive Age would be at
an end before it had extended as far as the Straits of
Sunda.

It was impossible for any word of command to be
heard, but every man on deck knew exactly what should
be done, and, as Ben made his way forward by the aid of
the life-lines, all, save those at the wheel, clustered around
him.

During the next two hours, the crew worked as men
will for their lives, and, at the end of that time, the spars
had drifted far astern, the violence of the tempest had
subsided, and the little brig, so trim and jaunty a few
hours before, now tossed on the storm-driven waters, ap-
parently a helpless wreck.

As soon as the more imminent danger had been
averted, Ben took sufficient time to run below in order to
speak with the young girl.

He knew she must have heard the blows of the timbers
upon the hull, and understood that she would fancy the