been　left　behind。　　Poor　North！　　As　the　thought　of　pity　came　to　him；　the　light　he　looked　at　was　suddenly　extinguished；　and　Rufus　Dawes；　compelled　thereto　as　by　an　irresistible　power；　fell　　upon　his　knees　and　prayed　for　the　pardon　and　happiness　of　the　man　who　had　redeemed　him。
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  〃That's　a　gun　from　the　shore；〃　said　Partridge　the　mate；　〃and　they're　burning　a　red　light。　　There's　a　prisoner　escaped。　　Shall　we　lie…to？〃
  〃Lie…to！〃　cried　old　Blunt；　with　a　tremendous　oath。　　〃We'll　have　suthin'　else　to　do。　　Look　there！〃
  The　sky　to　the　northward　was　streaked　with　a　belt　of　livid　green　colour；　above　which　rose　a　mighty　black　cloud；　whose　shape　was　ever　changing。
  CHAPTER　XVIII。
  THE　CYCLONE。
  Bunt；　recognising　the　meteoric　heralds　of　danger；　had　begun　to　regret　his　obstinacy。　　He　saw　that　a　hurricane　was　approaching。
  Along　the　south　coast　of　the　Australian　continent；　though　the　usual　westerly　winds　and　gales　of　the　highest　latitudes　prevail　during　the　greater　portion　of　the　year；　hurricanes　are　not　infrequent。　Gales　commence　at　NW　with　a　low　barometer；　increasing　at　W　and　SW；　and　gradually　veering　to　the　south。　　True　cyclones　occur　at　New　Zealand。　The　log　of　the　Adelaide　for　29th　February；　1870；　describes　one　which　travelled　at　the　rate　of　ten　miles　an　hour；　and　had　all　the　veerings；　calm　centre；　etc。；　of　a　true　tropical　hurricane。　　Now　a　cyclone　occurring　off　the　west　coast　of　New　Zealand　would　travel　from　the　New　Hebrides；　where　such　storms　are　hideously　frequent；　and　envelop　Norfolk　Island；　passing　directly　across　the　track　of　vessels　coming　from　South　America　to　Sydney。　　It　was　one　of　these　rotatory　storms；　an　escaped　tempest　of　the　tropics；　which　threatened　the　Lady　Franklin。
  The　ominous　calm　which　had　brooded　over　the　island　during　the　day　had　given　place　to　a　smart　breeze　from　the　north…east；　　and　though　the　schooner　had　been　sheltered　at　her　anchorage　under　the　lee　of　the　island　（the　〃harbour〃　looked　nearly　due　south）；　when　once　fairly　out　to　sea；　Blunt　saw　it　would　be　impossible　to　put　back　in　the　teeth　of　the　gale。　Haply；　however；　the　full　fury　of　the　storm　would　not　overtake　them　till　they　had　gained　sea…room。
  Rufus　Dawes；　exhausted　with　the　excitement　through　which　he　had　passed；　had　slept　for　two　or　three　hours；　when　he　was　awakened　by　the　motion　of　the　vessel　going　on　the　other　tack。　　He　rose　to　his　feet；　and　found　himself　in　complete　darkness。　　Overhead　was　the　noise　of　trampling　feet；　and　he　could　distinguish　the　hoarse　tones　of　Blunt　bellowing　orders。　Astonished　at　the　absence　of　the　moonlight　which　had　so　lately　silvered　the　sea；　he　flung　open　the　cabin　window　and　looked　out。　　As　we　have　said；　the　cabin　allotted　to　North　was　one　of　the　two　stern　cabins；　and　from　it　the　convict　had　a　full　view　of　the　approaching　storm。
  The　sight　was　one　of　wild　grandeur。　　The　huge；　black　cloud　which　hung　in　the　horizon　had　changed　its　shape。　　Instead　of　a　curtain　it　was　an　arch。　Beneath　this　vast　and　magnificent　portal　shone　a　dull　phosphoric　light。　Across　this　livid　space　pale　flashes　of　sheet…lightning　passed　noiselessly。　Behind　it　was　a　dull　and　threatening　murmur；　made　up　of　the　grumbling　of　thunder；　the　falling　of　rain；　and　the　roar　of　contending　wind　and　water。　The　lights　of　the　prison…island　had　disappeared；　so　rapid　had　been　the　progress　of　the　schooner　under　the　steady　breeze；　and　the　ocean　stretched　around；　black　and　desolate。　　Gazing　upon　this　gloomy　expanse；　Rufus　Dawes　observed　a　strange　phenomenonlightning　appeared　to　burst　upwards　from　the　sullen　bosom　of　the　sea。　　At　intervals；　the　darkly…rolling　waves　flashed　fire；　and　streaks　of　flame　shot　upwards。　　The　wind　increased　in　violence；　and　the　arch　of　light　was　fringed　with　rain。　　A　dull；　red　glow　hung　around；　like　the　reflection　of　a　conflagration。　　Suddenly；　a　tremendous　peal　of　thunder；　accompanied　by　a　terrific　downfall　of　rain；　rattled　along　the　sky。　　The　arch　of　light　disappeared；　as　though　some　invisible　hand　had　shut　the　slide　of　a　giant　lantern。　　A　great　wall　of　water　rushed　roaring　over　the　level　plain　of　the　sea；　and　with　an　indescribable　medley　of　sounds；　in　which　tones　of　horror；　triumph；　and　torture　were　blended；　the　cyclone　swooped　upon　them。
  Rufus　Dawes　comprehended　that　the　elements　had　come　to　　save　or　destroy　him。　In　that　awful　instant　the　natural　powers　of　the　man　rose　equal　to　the　occasion。　In　a　few　hours　his　fate　would　be　decided；　and　it　was　necessary　that　he　should　take　all　precaution。　　One　of　two　events　seemed　inevitable；　he　would　either　be　drowned　where　he　lay；　or；　should　the　vessel　weather　the　storm；　he　would　be　forced　upon　the　deck；　and　the　desperate　imposture　he　had　attempted　be　discovered。　　For　the　moment　despair　overwhelmed　him；　and　he　contemplated　the　raging　sea　as　though　he　would　cast　himself　into　it；　and　thus　end　his　troubles。　　The　tones　of　a　woman's　voice　recalled　him　to　himself。　　Cautiously　unlocking　the　cabin　door；　he　peered　out。　The　cuddy　was　lighted　by　a　swinging　lamp　which　revealed　Sylvia　questioning　one　of　the　women　concerning　the　storm。　　As　Rufus　Dawes　looked；　he　saw　her　glance；　with　an　air　half　of　hope；　half　of　fear；　towards　the　door　behind　which　he　lurked；　and　he　understood　that　she　expected　to　see　the　chaplain。　　Locking　the　door；　he　proceeded　hastily　to　dress　himself　in　North's　clothes。　　He　would　wait　until　his　aid　was　absolutely　required；　and　then　rush　out。　　In　the　darkness；　Sylvia　would　mistake　him　for　the　priest。　He　could　convey　her　to　the　boatif　recourse　to　the　boats　should　be　rendered　necessaryand　then　take　the　hazard　of　his　fortune。　While　she　was　in　danger；　his　place　was　near　by。
  From　the　deck　of　the　vessel　the　scene　was　appalling。　　The　clouds　had　closed　in。　The　arch　of　light　had　disappeared；　and　all　was　a　dull；　windy　blackness。　Gigantic　seas　seemed　to　mount　in　the　horizon　and　sweep　towards　and　upon　them。　It　was　as　though　the　ship　lay　in　the　vortex　of　a　whirlpool；　so　high　on　either　side　of　her　were　piled　the　rough　pyramidical　masses　of　sea。　Mighty　gusts　aroseclaps　of　wind　which　seemed　like　strokes　of　thunder。　A　sail　loosened　from　its　tackling　was　torn　away　and　blown　out　to　sea；　disappearing　like　a　shred　of　white　paper　to　leeward。　　The　mercury　in　the　barometer　marked　29：50。　　Blunt；　who　had　been　at　the　rum　bottle；　swore　great　oaths　that　no　soul　on　board　would　see　another　sun；　and　when　Partridge　rebuked　him　for　blasphemy　at　such　a　moment；　wept　spirituous　tears。
  The　howling　of　the　wind　was　benumbing；　the　very　fury　of　sound　enfeebled　while　it　terrified。　　The　sailors；　horror…stricken；　crawled　about　the　deck；　clinging　to　anything　they　thought　most　secure。　　It　was　impossible　to　raise　the　head　to　look　to　windward。　　　The　eyelids　were　driven　together；　and　the　face　stung　by　the　swift　and　biting　spray。　　Men　breathed　this　atmosphere　of　salt　and　wind；　and　became　sickened。　　Partridge　felt　that　orders　were　uselessthe　man　at　his　elbow　could　not　have　heard　them。　The　vessel　lay　almost　on　her　beam　ends；　with　her　helm　up；　stripped　even　of　the　sails　which　had　been　furled　upon　the　yards。　　Mortal　hands　could　do　nothing　for　her。
  By　five　o'clock　in　the　morning　the　gale　had　reached　its　height。　The　heavens　showered　out　rain　and　lightningsrain　which　the　wind　blew　away　before　it　reached　the　ocean；　lightnings　which　the　ravenous　and　mountainous　waves　swallowed　before　they　could　pierce　the　gloom。　　The　ship　lay　over　on　her　side；　held　there　by　the　madly　rushing　wind；　which　seemed　to　flatten　down　the　sea；　cutting　off　the　top　of　the　waves；　and　breaking　them　into　fine　white　spray　which　covered　the　ocean　like　a　thick　cloud；　as　high　as　the　topmast　heads。　　Each　gust　seemed　unsurpassable　in　intensity；　but　was　succeeded；　after　a　pause；　that　was　not　a　lull　but　a　gasp；　by　one　of　more　frantic　violence。　　The　barometer　stood　at　27：82。　The　ship　was　a　mere　labouring；　crazy　wreck；　that　might　sink　at　any　moment。　At　half…past　three　o'clock　the　barometer　had　fallen　to　27：62。　Save　when　lighted　by　occasional　flashes　of　sheet…lightning；　which　showed　to　the　cowed　wretches　their　awe…stricken　faces；　this　tragedy　of　the　elements　was　performed　in　a　darkness　which　was　almost　palpable。
  Suddenly　the　mercury　rose　to　29：90；　and；　with　one　awful　shriek；　the　wind　dropped　to　a　calm。　　The　Lady　Franklin　had　reached　the　centre　of　the　cyclone。　　Partridge；　glancing　to　where　the　great　body　of　drunken　Blunt　rolled　helplessly　lashed　to　the　wheel；　felt　a　strange　selfish　joy　thrill　him。　If　the　ship　survived　the　drunken　captain　would　be　dismissed；　and　he；　Partridge；　the　gallant；　would　reign　in　his　stead。　　The　schooner；　no　longer　steadied　by　the　wind；　was　at　the　mercy　of　every　sea。　　Volumes　of　water　poured　over　her。　Presently　she　heeled　over；　for；　with　a　triumphant　scream；　the　wind　leapt　on　to　her　from　a　fresh　quarter。　　Following　its　usual　course；　the　storm　returned　upon　its　track。　　The　hurricane　was　about　to　repeat　itself　from　the　north…west。
  The　sea；　pouring　down　through　the　burst　hatchway；　tore　the　door　of　the　cuddy　from　its　hinges。　　Sylvia　found　herself　surrounded　by　a　wildly…surging　torrent　which　threatened　to　overwhelm　　her。　　She　shrieked　aloud　for　aid；　but　her　voice　was　inaudible　even　to　herself。　　Clinging　to　the　mast　which　penetrated　the　little　cuddy；　she　fixed　her　eyes　upon