Mr. Mackintosh is right: the wind does seem to come steady from the
north-east, that's certain;" and Ready walked away to the binnacle, and
looked at the compass. Mr. Seagrave and William then went below, and
Mr. Mackintosh went forward to give his orders. As soon as they were
all gone, Ready went up again to Captain Osborn and said:

"Captain Osborn, it's not for me to contradict Mr. Mackintosh, but
that's of little consequence in a time like this: I should have held to
my opinion, had it not been that the gentleman passenger and his son
were standing by, but now, as the coast is clear, I tell you that we
shall have something worse than a gale of wind. I have been in these
latitudes before, and I am an old seaman, as you know. There's
something in the air, and there has been something during the last
three days of calm, which reminds me too well of what I have seen here
before; and I am sure that we shall have little better than a
hurricane, as far as wind goes - and worse in one point, that it will
last much longer than hurricanes generally do. I have been watching,
and even the birds tell me so, and they are told by their nature, which
is never mistaken. That calm has been nothing more than a repose of the
winds previous to their being roused up to do their worst; and that is
my real opinion?"

"Well, and I'm inclined to agree with you, Ready; so we must send
topgallant yards down on deck, and all the small sails and lumber out
of the tops. Get the trysail aft and bent, and lower down the gaff. I
will go forward."

Their preparations were hardly complete before the wind had settled to
a fierce gale from the north-east. The sea rose rapidly; topsail after
topsail was furled; and by dusk the Pacific was flying through the