There was now a steady but decided rolling motion,
and the young ones laughed as they found it difficult to walk
steadily along the cabin.
Upon reaching the deck they saw that the smooth surface of the sea
was broken up by a long swell, that the wind now came in short but
sharp puffs, that the bank of clouds covered nearly half the sky,
and that the detached scud was now flying overhead. The previous
stillness was gone; and between the sudden gusts, the roar of the
wind in the upper region could be heard. The sun had set now, and a
pall of deep blackness seemed to hang from the cloud down to the
sea; but at the line where cloud and water touched, a gleam of dim
white light appeared.
In preparation for the coming storm, the sailors had put on thick
waterproof coats. Many of the passengers had gone below, and those
who remained had followed the sailors' example, and had wrapped
themselves up in mackintoshes.
Every moment the gusts increased in frequency and power, and the
regular line of swell became broken up into confused white-headed
waves. The white gleam under the dark cloud grew wider and broader,
and at last, with a roar like that of a thousand wild beasts, the
gale broke upon them. Just before this Mr. Hardy had taken Mrs.
Hardy and the girls below, promising the latter that they should
come up later for a peep out, if they still wished it.
Pages:
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36