It really was a violent storm, approaching a
hurricane in force, and at one time it seemed as
though the craft, having been heeled far over
under a staggering wave that swept her decks,
would not come back to an even keel.

There was a panic among some of the
passengers, and a few excited men behaved in a
way that caused prompt action on the part of
the first officer, who drove them back to the
main cabin under threat of a revolver. For the
men were determined to get to the lifeboats, and
a small craft would not have had a minute to live
in such seas as were running.

But the vessel proved herself sturdier than the
timid ones had dared to hope, and she was soon
running before the blast, going out of her course,
it is true, but avoiding the danger among the
many cays, or small islands, that dot the Caribbean
Sea.

There was nothing to do but to let the storm
blow itself out, which it did in two days. Then
came a period of delightful weather. The cargo
had shifted somewhat, which gave the steamer
a rather undignified list.

This, as well as the loss of a deckhand
overboard, was the effect of the hurricane, and