It was so, at all events, in our instance; for, after our ten days of stagnation on the rolling ocean, a change came almost as suddenly as the calm had set in, the weather breaking towards the close of the very day that had witnessed the downfall of Davis and Jackson's elevation to the dignity of the poop. Every evening during the continuance of the calm, as I think I have mentioned, the sun went down below the horizon like a ball of fire, while a thick misty fog afterwards enveloped the sea; but this day when we came on deck after dinner, about the middle of the second dog watch, the sky, for a wonder, was quite clear, and the glorious orb sank to rest with some of that old splendour of his which I had noticed when we were threading our way amongst the islands. Long after he had disappeared, too, from view the heavens were lit up with a ruby radiance which was reflected below in the water, making it look like a crimson ocean. "We're going to have a change at last, Marline," said Captain Miles rubbing his hands together. "It is better late than never!" "Aye," responded the first mate who stood by the binnacle; "the question, though, is, what change?" "Hang it, man," exclaimed the captain testily, "anything is preferable to this confounded calm." "Well, I don't quite agree with you there," said Mr Marline drily; "there is such a thing as changing for the worse. Have you looked at the glass, eh?" "'Pon my word, I have not once glanced at it this evening! Dear me, what on earth could I have been thinking of?" ejaculated the captain in a sort of apologetic way, darting down instantly below to consult his unfailing guide, the barometer, which I suppose he had looked at so vainly for many days past that he had given up the instrument as incorrigible. In another moment, however, he was on deck again, rubbing his hands as triumphantly together as before. "Pooh, nonsense, Marline!" he cried, "you're an old croaker, saying that the change would possibly be for the worse! Why, the glass is rising, man, rising steadily; and, I've no doubt we'll have a splendid breeze ere nightfall, and glorious weather." "All right, sir, we'll see," was the mate's cautious answer. Meanwhile, the after-glow faded out of the sky and the stars began to come out in batches, especially to the north-west, where they shone as bright as diamonds, blinking and twinkling with various colours as one looked at them steadfastly, and seeming ever so much larger than usual. A faint stir in the air also became perceptible, and the idle sails, that had so long flapped against the yards lazily only with the roll of the ship as she lurched to port or starboard with the ocean swell, were crumpled out a bit, as if they half felt inclined to expand their folds; but there was not wind enough for this, so they presently flattened themselves again, determined, apparently, to take it easy.