swiftly over the turbid waters, and in an incredibly short time alongside the Highflyer.

The wind had risen to a shrieking gale, bearing lance-points of stinging sleet; not a star was visible, the moon was blotted out by a dense bank of clouds, the roar of the sea and the sullen battering of the great breakers against the lofty cliffs to leeward was like the thunderous boom of artillery, the roar of the waves about and below the ship like the bellow of dragons imprisoned far, far below.

In haste the boat was hoisted upon the davits, the orders were given in quick succession, and the ship was under way for the run across to Man-cho-nock.

Scarcely was the anchor broke and the ship filled away, when, butt end first, the hurricane burst upon them in all its fury. The ship was knocked down not two cables' length from the rocky cliff under her lee, but, being a staunch vessel, she righted as she gathered momentum from the terrific force of the wind.

The grave danger that menaced the Highflyer at this time, was of being stranded for want of searoom, before she could gather headway enough to offset the leeway she was making toward the rocky shore, while it would have been sheer madness to attempt to go in stays; but gallantly she held her way, forging to windward, pointing her nose seaward, and gradually, but surely, widening her distance from the dangerous lee-shore.

It was minutes before a word was spoken, as with set teeth and bated breath all waited until the supreme moment of danger was past.

White foam-capped waves rose like mocking, giant spectres, leaping past the flying ship in flashes of pale fire, lighting the darkness with phosphorescent glow, only to reveal the terrors around, and

with a crash like the whistle of shot the sleet came surging aslant, sweeping the deck with an icy broadside and encasing the creaking masts and ropes with crystal sheaths encrusted with innumerable diamonds.

The boldest among the brave sailors on that icy deck shuddered; stout hearts and nerves of steel must tremble when the Creator manifests His power upon the face of the mighty deep. Daring and godless indeed is the mortal who refuses to bow in humble supplication when the Almighty reveals Himself in awful majesty and sublimity out upon the angry waters lashed by the hurricane.

Not a soldier or sailor on board the Highflyer who did not offer a silent petition while the stout timbers and planks groaned and creaked beneath their feet, as they realised the terrific power of the winds and waves tossing the leviathan ship-o'-war hither and thither, a waif upon the inferno of waters, one moment rising with the fearful impetus upon the shoulder of a monster billow, only to plunge again into a black abyss, while the wind raved and the sleet froze a winding sheet upon the deck.

Captain Monckton was the first to speak, as in a devout voice he cried:

"Thank God, we are safe!"

"Amen!" responded Gardiner, and a lowbreathed echo rose from the lips of all on board.

66

"I am a stranger in these waters," continued Captain Monckton, and we have escaped the momentary danger possibly to run headlong into greater peril, if greater there can be, with no friendly beacon lights, and no charts pointing out the danger on these coasts. We should still be in sorry plight were it not for your presence on board, Captain. What is to be done?"

"Have no fear, Monckton," returned sturdy Captain Gardiner, cheerfully; "your good ship is staunch and seaworthy, and I feel as safe now upon her deck as I should if we were in Gardiner Hall at this moment. I say this that all may feel assured. It is folly to attempt to reach the Isle of Wight to-night, in the teeth of a tempest of such unwonted fury as this, and when, as you say, we have no guiding-star. But, the alternative is a feasible and safe one-that is, simply to hold on our way seaward until the dangerous reef that is still under our lee, that the Indians. call Shag-wan-nock, is passed; we can then run off a few miles to sea, heave-to and ride out the storm, which, from its severity, I am certain will be shortlived. We can make our way back after the gale has broken."

Accordingly a double watch was set, and the ship was put to sea. For hours the noble craft, stormdriven, sped like a thing of life over the dark heaving waters, while the aërial batteries thundered, the storm-spirit held high carnival alow and aloft, and the blinding sleet fast wove icy coats of mail and glittering helmets on the shaggy sou'westers and tarpaulins of the poor fellows exposed to its cruel force.

It was past the midnight hour when the storm ceased, with the suddenness with which it had arisen; the wind had passed, shrieking on its way, and naught was felt of it; but the sullen roar was heard high overhead, as it receded seaward until the sound was lost.

The sea continued boisterous for hours after, as the Highflyer, hove-tó under close-reefed topsails, rode in safety leagues away from the perils that had menaced her a few short hours before.

The skies were cleared of the rift that had floated away in ribbons, the moon, sailing a crystal disc high

up toward the zenith, lent her opalescent light, the stars came forth like sparkling brilliants in the diadem of night, and under the clear rays the ship rode, hull, spars and sails shrouded in frozen snow and sleet, a barque wrought in frosted silver, weird, white, ghostly.

Presently the wind, that had died out, sprang again to life in the same quarter from whence the storm had come, increasing to a steady breeze, and under a press of sail the Highflyer went on her course, traversing her briny pathway back to the friendly shore of the Isle of Wight, from which, so lately and so unceremoniously, she had been forced to fly.

Nothing occurred to interrupt the even tenor of her way, and in the early hours of morning the ship cast anchor in the offing at the Isle of Wight, at about the hour that she had left the same anchorage upon the previous morning, to run over to Montauk for her officers and marines to indulge in a day's hunt.

As soon as the salute was fired a boat left her gangway, bearing Captain Gardiner, Captain Monckton and Lieutenant Roswell, as the two latter had accepted an invitation to breakfast at Gardiner Hall.

CHAPTER XLIX

THE DOPPELGANGER

"Sometime we see a cloud that's dragonish:
A vapour, sometime, like a bear or lion,
A tower'd citadel, a pendant rock,

D

A forked mountain, or blue promontory
With trees upon 't, that nod unto the world,

And mock our eyes with air; thou hast seen these signs;
They are black vesper's pageants."

AMARIS had been restless during the en-
tire day after parting with Guy, why
she could scarcely have told, for his
presence was, to her, rather depressing

than otherwise.

As for Colonel Lawrence, he had isolated himself within his own apartment for hours, as if indeed he were determined to increase the coldness and constraint that had marked his demeanour since his halfenforced sojourn at the hall. The dinner was served at an early hour, and scarcely a word passed between the twain. Immediately after the family rose from the table he excused himself, and wrapping his military cloak about his shoulders he sauntered forth to enjoy his pipe in the frosty air.

The sun had set, and he stood sheltered by a spur of rock, his eyes roving across the broad expanse of water that had begun to ruffle ominously under the rising wind, and anon scanning the scurrying clouds, apprehensively, as they dropped lower and grew blacker and denser with each passing moment.