southwest, meant a change. What does the glass say?"

"It is falling very rapidly," the captain answered. "We are in for
a sou'wester, and a stiff one too, or I am mistaken."

Now that it appeared likely that their wishes were about to be
gratified, the young Hardys did not seem so pleased as they had
expected, although Charley still declared manfully that he was
quite in earnest, and that he did wish to see a real storm at sea.

As the sun set the party still leaned against the bulwarks watching
it, and the great bank of clouds, which seemed every moment to be
rising higher and higher. There was still nearly a dead calm around
them, and the heavy beat of the paddles, as they lashed the water
into foam, and the dull thud of the engine, were the only sounds
that broke the stillness. Now and then, however, a short puff of
wind ruffled the water, and then died away again.

"Look at that great cloud, papa," Hubert said; "it almost looks as
if it were alive."

"Yes, Hubert, it is very grand; and there is no doubt about there
being wind there."

The great cloud bank appeared to be in constant motion. Its shape
was incessantly shifting and changing; now a great mass would roll
upward, now sink down again; now the whole body would seem to roll
over and over upon itself; then small portions would break off from
the mass, and sail off by themselves, getting thinner and thinner,
and disappearing at last in the shape of fine streamers.