For about half an hour the storm lashed the surface of the sea with unbridled fury, and then, with startling suddenness, the wind dropped. Tempest did not trust this latest antic of the gale. There was something majestic and awe-inspiring about the turbulent water without a breath of wind blowing. He cast an eye at the jib, which now swung like a pendulum as the _Nautilus_ rocked. At any minute the storm might smash down on them again. “You stop there,” he said to the boy; and made his way for’ard to save the sail while the chance lasted. He had barely accomplished this when the treacherous wind struck the _Nautilus_ once more. It seemed, however, to have spent most of its energy. Warily Tempest made his way to a locker and began fumbling in it for a sea-anchor which he remembered was there. “We may win out yet,” he said to Dave, with a return of his old optimism, as he attached a few yards of rope to the canvas bag and heaved it over the bow. The steadying effect of the dragging bag was noticeable immediately, keeping the craft head on with its resistance. After that there remained nothing to do but let the gale wear itself out. It was impossible to get anything to eat or drink, for the little craft never stopped dancing crazily. It was very near sunset when there came a marked moderation of the wind. “Put um sail up bimeby,” commented Jim. “You’ve said it,” agreed Tempest. “The worst is over, and it’s getting better all the time. This is where we thank our lucky stars, if we have any. I don’t mind admitting now that I didn’t expect to be alive by night. What do you say, Jim?” Jim shrugged his shoulders. Whatever his feelings were he was not in the habit of exhibiting them. “We have some grub now, eh?” he said. With this practical suggestion the others heartily agreed. Now that immediate danger was past they felt half starved. During the day Tempest had constantly kept an eye on his compass, and he calculated that they must have been blown a dozen or more miles off their course. The first thing to do was to take a reef in the main sail and get back in the proper direction. A tremendous groundswell was running, but the water was no longer broken. The _Nautilus_ bumped and thudded her way through it heavily, shaking her occupants like peas in a pan; but Tempest was able to keep her running until dawn, by which time he considered they must be arriving somewhere near their destination. Two islands loomed up during the forenoon, and after a careful consultation of the chart it was decided that these probably lay to the north of the one which they were seeking. Tempest bent his course south accordingly, and was greatly elated a few hours later to pick up the outline of land. CHAPTER XX SHOTS FROM THE BEACH