"Why, Mr Hurry, she's seen no little service in her time, I'm thinking; and if so be there comes a gale of wind, she'll require delicate handling, or she'll be apt to go t'other way to what the schooner we last took did. Now, to my mind, sir, the weather doesn't look at all pleasant like, and I shouldn't be surprised but what we get a pretty heavy gale of wind before nightfall." "I think so too," said I. "There's one comfort, if we do not fan in with the `Orpheus' again for a month to come, we've provisions enough on board--we shall not starve." Old Nol's prognostications were fulfilled even sooner than we expected; a black, heavy bank of clouds came rolling up towards us; and as the frigate's top-gallant sails, shining with peculiar whiteness against the dark mass, sank beneath the horizon, we were pitching our bows into a heavy sea under a close-reefed mainsail and foresail. We had made ourselves as snug as we could, but not a moment too soon. Had there been a trysail on board I should have set it. Even with the sail she had on her the vessel strained very much, and sometimes I thought she would make a perfect dip of it and go down head foremost. However, I had done all I could do, and must await the result. "What's the matter now?" said I to Grampus, who had gone below for a short time. "Why, sir, the old tub is taking in water rather faster than we are likely to pump it out." "We must try, however," I answered. "Man the pumps, and let's do our best." So to work we set. The weather was cool, and we were wet with the sea and spray, but the exercise kept us from feeling cold. We soon found that we made no sensible impression on the water in the hold, but yet it was something to keep the vessel afloat. While so employed, a loud bang saluted our ears; a heavier blast than usual had split both the mainsail and foresail. The sails soon shivered to tatters. I could find none with which to replace them, and there we lay, almost water-logged, at the mercy of the winds and waves. A long November night, too, was coming on, and I felt the very great probability that we might never be blessed by the sight of another dawn. Grampus took it very coolly; he had been in many similar situations; but Tom Rockets was far from happy. "Oh, Mr Hurry," said he, as the gale rose higher and the seas tossed us helplessly about, ever and anon deluging our decks, "what is to become of us, sir? What will poor mother do when she hears that you and I are gone to the bottom in this outlandish country, where they seem to have nothing to do but to fight and shoot and knock each other on the head?" Poor Tom's notion of the country was very naturally formed from his own experience.