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The Storm on the Indian Ocean

           Theonlyquestionwas,howlongwouldsheholdoutwithsolittlesail,andwhatsailcouldresistsuchviolenceforanylengthoftime.Thegreatadvantageofkeepingupthemainsailwasthatitpresentedtothewavesonlythemostsolidportionsoftheyacht,andkeptherintherightcourse.Stillitinvolvedsomeperil,forthevesselmightgetengulfedbetweenthewaves,andnotbeabletoraiseherself.ButManglesfelttherewasnoalternative,andallhecoulddowastokeepthecrewreadytoalterthesailatanymoment,andstayintheshroudshimselfwatchingthetempest.

           Theremainderofthenightwasspentinthismanner,anditwashopedthatmorningwouldbringacalm.Butthiswasadelusivehope.At8A.M.thewindhadincreasedtoahurricane.

           Johnsaidnothing,buthetrembledforhisship,andthoseonboard.TheDuncanmadeafrightfulplungeforward,andforaninstantthementhoughtshewouldneverriseagain.Alreadytheyhadseizedtheirhatchetstocutawaytheshroudsfromthemainmast,butthenextminutethesailsweretornawaybythetempest,andhadflownofflikegiganticalbatrosses.

           Theyachthadrisenoncemore,butshefoundherselfatthemercyofthewavesentirelynow,withnothingtosteadyordirecther,andwassofearfullypitchedandtossedaboutthateverymomentthecaptainexpectedthemastswouldbreakshortoff.Johnhadnoresourcebuttoputupaforestaysail,andrunbeforethegale.Butthiswasnoeasytask.Twentytimesoverhehadallhisworktobeginagain,anditwas3P.M.beforehisattemptsucceeded.

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