158 . THE BOY CAPTAIN.

danger to be greater than it really was, while alone in the
cabin, unable to get the slightest information as to what
was going on outside.

He found her seated in one of the stationary chairs at
the table, which was, in fact, about the only place where
she could have remained many moments at a time, and,
although she said not a word which gave a hint of her
terror, the white face told, eloquently, of the fever of fear
in her breast.

“The worst is over,” he said, reassuringly, as, hardly
conscious of what he did, he took her hand in his. “The
worst is over, and, in a few hours at the longest, the
typhoon will have become one of the things of the past.”

“Did the brig strike a reef?” she asked, nervously,
using every effort to prevent her voice from trembling.

“No; the blows you felt came from alongside. We
carried away both topmasts, and have just succeeded in
getting clear of them.”

«Are we in any danger?”

“Not the slightest, and I hope you will believe what I
say, for at such a time it would be worse than criminal to
deceive you. We are neither in danger, nor will the mis-
hap delay us very long. We can handle the craft as she
is until arriving at Anjer, where everything will be put
into proper trim once more. You must be thoroughly
worn out trying to hold yourself in this chair. Can’t I
persuade you to go into your room and lie down ?”’

“Listen!” she replied, holding up one hand.

The brig had plunged into a chasm of the sea, and