He had hardly come to this satisfactory conclusion before the Maud began to behave in a very violent and unruly manner. She pitched and rolled furiously, so that it began to be rather difficult for the young landsman to keep on his feet. Either the gale had increased in force, or the vessel had reached a more exposed position. The water was breaking over the schooner, and it could be heard pounding upon the deck. Some of it poured down the companion-way into the cabin; and then Louis heard the mate order one of the sailors to close the doors, and draw the slide. Captain Scoble did not offer to leave the divan under the stern windows where he had been driven, and Louis went to the pantry. He opened the door leading into the steerage, and shouted the name of Captain Ringgold. He was absent from the cabin but a few seconds, for he knew he could not trust Scoble to keep quiet. Before the shipmaster appeared, Mr. Frinks came down into the cabin. He must have heard some of the loud talk in the cabin, for the skylight was not far from the wheel. He had shown no disposition to interfere with the captain’s affairs, at least not till he was called upon to do so. The mate seemed to be greatly astonished to find everything so tranquil in the cabin. He looked at Louis, and then cast his eyes about, evidently in search of the captain. He did not see him at first; for that worthy, in the absence of anything better to do, appeared to have lain down and gone to sleep. “Where is the captain?” asked the mate. “He is somewhere about here,” replied Louis indirectly. “It is about time for him to come on deck, for it is blowing great guns, and we have just got out from the lee of the north shore. It is wet on deck, and I want my rubber coat,” replied Frinks, as he went to the stateroom opposite that occupied by Mrs. Belgrave. [Illustration: “THE SHIPMASTER CHANGED HIS GRIP TO THE THROAT OF THE PROSTRATE VILLAIN.” Page 112.] He procured the coat and came out again; but he had enabled Louis to ascertain where he berthed in the cabin. He asked Louis to tell the captain that he had better go on deck if he saw him, which he did not promise to do, and then returned to his duty. He had hardly closed the slide before Captain Ringgold came out of the pantry. “I saw that you had company, and I waited till the mate had gone,” said the captain. “I saw that you were having no trouble, or I should have come at once. What is going on here?” “I will tell you all about it in a few minutes, for”-- “How is your mother, Louis?” interposed the shipmaster, fearful that something had happened to her. “She is all right; she has got over her sea-sickness. I want you to tell me where we are, if you can, and what makes this violent kick-up of the vessel,” said Louis, who was ready to act, but did not understand the situation of the Maud.