CHAPTER V
A TROPICAL STORM
"What's all this?" exclaimed Grant, startled by the sudden change thathad come over the boat.
The four boys looked about them in surprise, unable to account for thetransformation. Petersen was forgotten; jewels and treasure wereforgotten; even the strange code was forgotten and Grant absent-mindedlythrust it into his trouser's pocket.
"What is it, do you suppose?" he exclaimed again.
"Look over there and you'll see," said Fred.
He pointed to the westward and as his three friends gazed in thedirection he had indicated they soon saw the cause of all the commotion.Far off on the western horizon appeared a cloud. That in itself was nospecial reason for alarm, but it was a very peculiar looking cloud. Itwas grayish-black in color and shaped like a funnel. Long ragged stripshad separated themselves from the main body and hung like long wispsfrom the sky.
"Do you think it's a tornado?" exclaimed John, in a low voice.
"I don't know, String," said Pop. "It looks bad though, doesn't it?"
"It does to me all right," said Fred grimly. "The captain must think itis pretty serious too from all the preparations that are being made."
"They're taking in some of the sails," remarked Grant.
"I'm glad of that," exclaimed Fred. "When that storm hits us I don'twant any more canvas spread than is necessary."
"Perhaps it won't hit us," said George hopefully.
"You're an optimist, Pop, I'm afraid," said Fred. "I think it'll hit usall right."
"The breeze is going down," said John suddenly.
"It surely is," agreed Grant. "The lull before the storm."
"Look at that cloud now," exclaimed Fred. "It's spreading all over thesky and see how fast it is going. It'll be dark in a few minutes."
"Why don't they take the rest of the sails in?" demanded John nervously."I must say I don't like this."
"They've taken in the topsails and the mizzen," said Grant. "That's abig part."
A lull had now come over the crew and the four young friends wereunconsciously affected by it. Now there was not a breath of airstirring; the sails hung heavy and motionless from the yards. Blackerand blacker grew the sky; the stillness all about became appalling. Noone spoke a word, but every one stood around as though waiting forsomething serious to happen. The crew was gathered about the forwardhatchway silently watching the approach of the storm.
Mr. Johnson, the mate, went forward and gave some order in a low tone.More sails were taken in, all in a solemn and quiet manner. The brig nowlay motionless on the water while an uneasy expectation of somethingthreatening seemed to hang overhead. The suspense was terrible. CaptainDodge paced silently up and down the deck but he spoke to no one and noone spoke to him. It was now so dark it was almost impossible to see thelength of the ship.
Again Mr. Johnson came forward and gave another low-voiced command. Twosailors, one of whom was Petersen, started up the mast to clew down themain top-gallant sail. They had just reached the fore-top-gallant yardwhen a strange thing happened.
"Look," cried John, in an awe struck voice.
"What is that?" demanded Fred in a frightened whisper.
"A corposant," said Grant. "I've read about them."
Over and directly above the heads of the two sailors appeared a light.It was in the shape of a ball and hung to the very top of the mast.
"What's a corposant?" whispered John.
"I don't know," replied Grant, "except that that's what they call a ballof light like that one. If it goes up it's supposed to be good luck, butif it comes down it's bad."
"I wish Petersen wasn't up there," muttered Fred.
"Don't be silly, Fred," exclaimed Grant sharply. The tension wasaffecting every one's nerves. It was almost pitch dark on the_Josephine_ now.
"I can't help it," insisted Fred. "I wish it was some one else upthere."
"It's gone," remarked John suddenly.
"No, it isn't," George corrected. "There it is, down on the yard."
"It came down then," said Fred. "I knew it would."
"Don't blame Petersen," exclaimed Grant. "It's not his fault."
The two sailors had climbed down quickly after their task was completedand now joined the rest of the crew. All together they stood and watchedthe strange light until after playing about the mast for some tenminutes or so it disappeared as suddenly as it had come.
Somebody passed the spot where the four boys stood. It was too dark tomake out who it was but the young sailors could hear him moaning andgroaning to himself. "Dat Finn," he groaned. "Oh, Lawdy, dat Finn. Ahknowed it all de time. We sho' is goners now."
"There goes Sam," whispered Fred.
"Let him go," said Grant shortly.
"Here comes the rain," exclaimed John suddenly.
A few huge drops fell upon the deck and at the same time the darknessseemed to grow even deeper than before.
"There's thunder too," said George. A few low rumbles were heard, whileoff to the southwest appeared some random flashes of lightning.
"Where's the storm?" demanded Fred. "So far nothing has happened. Thisstillness and darkness are getting on my nerves."
"Wait," counseled Grant, and scarcely had he spoken when there was ablinding flash of light. Almost at the same instant came a deafeningpeal of thunder. The sky directly overhead seemed to open up and downcame the water in torrents.
Unconsciously the four boys drew closer together, so startled were theyby this unexpected happening. It seemed as if the brig must have beenstruck but evidently it had escaped, for a second later there wasanother flash and report and the bare masts could be seen outlinedagainst the inky sky.
Flash followed flash in quick succession. The whole ocean was lighted upby the constant blaze of light. Peal after peal rattled overhead with anoise so violent that it seemed as if the whole earth must be shaken.After a few moments the deluge of rain abated but the thunder and thelightning continued incessantly. So far there had not been a breath ofair stirring; the _Josephine_ lay motionless on the surface of theocean and seemed to the people on board of her an excellent and easytarget for the fury of the elements.
Several times one of the boys started to speak but his words were lostin the roar of the storm. They were almost blinded by the lightning butno one thought of going below. This was their first experience in atropical storm and they were frightened. They would not have beenashamed to admit it either. They did not care to go to their bunks, forevery one wanted to be on deck where he could see what was going on.
The lightning played all about the ship and it seemed a miracle that shewas not hit. It seemed to run up and down the masts, across the yardsand over the anchors, but thus far the _Josephine_ had escaped. Allthis time there had been no wind; the brig lay motionless and powerlessto move.
Suddenly there was a blinding flash and a ripping, tearing soundaccompanied by the smell of burnt wood. So severe had been the blaze oflight that every one was temporarily blinded by it and for a few secondseverything looked red. A moment later, however, when the crew hadrecovered somewhat from the shock a great shouting and running to andfro began.
"We're hit," cried Grant, the first to regain his senses.
"The ship's on fire," shouted Fred excitedly.
As he spoke a few red tongues of flame appeared from the hatch. Orderswere instantly given and a brigade to fight the fire was formed almostat once. It was difficult work, however, for the night was so dark thatit was nearly impossible to see one's way around the deck. The flashesof lightning were about the only help afforded to the emergency firemen.
The four young friends were among the first to join in this work.Buckets were passed from hand to hand and the men worked feverishly. Noone shirked for an instant and in fact no one dared to do so, forwithout their ship the men were nearly helpless, left to the mercy ofthe ocean.
"The wind's coming up," exclaimed Grant suddenly.
What he said was true. It was also raining hard o
nce more, though thethunder and lightning had somewhat abated.
"The wind means our finish," said Fred grimly. "We'll never stop thisfire now."
"We must," cried John doggedly. "We're lost if we don't."
Every one redoubled his efforts but the fire gained steadily. Higher andhigher leaped the flames and farther and farther astern they crept. Thecrew worked like demons but their task was hopeless. The fire was toomighty for them and it was soon evident to every one on board that the_Josephine_ was a doomed ship.