"When the time comes I'll see what I can do," he answered; "but it is ticklish work interfering with such fellows as the present master of this ship, unless one advises the very thing one does not want done." "We may soon require the exercise of your skill," I remarked. "It appears to me that there will speedily be a change in the weather." "Little doubt about that, and we shall have it hot and strong again soon," he answered, looking round the horizon. "Not another hurricane, I hope," said I. "Not quite sure about that," he answered. "Were I master of this ship I should make all snug for it; but if I were to advise Gregson to do so, he'd only crack on more sail to show his superior seamanship. I've had a talk with the surgeon, McDow, a very decent sort of young fellow, and so I know the man we have to deal with." An hour or two after this, the wind had increased to half a gale, and the _Kangaroo_ was tearing away through the sea with a great deal more sail than a prudent seaman would have carried. Unfortunately William or Trundle had remarked that it was much more important to shorten sail on the appearance of bad weather on board a short-handed merchantman, than on board a man-of-war with a strong crew. I saw O'Carroll looking anxiously aloft, and then again to windward. At last he could stand it no longer. "You'll let the wind take the topmasts out of the ship if you don't look out, Captain Gregson," he remarked. "What business have you to come aboard this ship and to pretend to teach me?" answered the master, who was more than half drunk. "If you do, take care. I'll turn you out of her, and let you find your own way ashore." While he was speaking a loud crack was heard, and the mizen-topmast was carried over the side. This made him order the crew aloft to shorten sail. "You go too, you lazy youngsters!" he exclaimed, seeing William and Trundle on deck. They sprung up the rigging without a word of reply. I watched them with great anxiety, for the masts bent like whips, and I was afraid every moment to see the main share the fate of the mizen-mast, to the destruction of all on the yards. Still the master, as if indifferent to what might happen, was not even looking aloft. The two midshipmen had just reached the top, and were about to lie along the yard, when O'Carroll shouted: "Down, all of you; down, for your lives!"