what's to be done. In the meantime it's our watch below, so I'll
go and turn in."

Bill then bade me good night, and went below, while a comrade took
his place at the helm; but, feeling no desire to enter into
conversation with him, I walked aft, and, leaning over the stern,
looked down into the phosphorescent waves that gargled around the
ladder, and streamed out like a flame of blue light in the vessel's
wake. My thoughts were very sad, and I could scarce refrain from
tears as I contrasted my present wretched position with the happy,
peaceful time, I had spent on the Coral Island with my dear
companions. As I thought upon Jack and Peterkin anxious
forebodings crossed my mind, and I pictured to myself the grief and
dismay with which they would search every nook and corner of the
island, in a vain attempt to discover my dead body; for I felt
assured that if they did not see any sign of the pirate schooner or
boat, when they came out of the cave to look for me, they would
never imagine that I had been carried away. I wondered, too, how
Jack would succeed in getting Peterkin out of the cave without my
assistance; and I trembled when I thought that he might lose
presence of mind, and begin to kick when he was in the tunnel!
These thoughts were suddenly interrupted and put to flight by a
bright red blaze which lighted up the horizon to the southward, and
cut a crimson glow far over the sea. This appearance was
accompanied by a low growling sound, as of distant thunder, and, at
the same time, the sky above us became black, while a hot stifling
wind blew around us in fitful gusts.

The crew assembled hastily on deck, and most of them were under the
belief that a frightful hurricane was pending; but the captain