... Night wore on: still the shining floor palpitated to the
feet of the dancers; still the piano-forte pealed, and still the
violins sang,--and the sound of their singing shrilled through
the darkness, in gasps of the gale, to the ears of Captain Smith,
as he strove to keep his footing on the spray-drenched deck of
the Star.

--"Christ!" he muttered,--"a dance! If that wind whips round
south, there'll be another dance! ... But I guess the Star will
stay." ...

Half an hour might have passed; still the lights flamed calmly,
and the violins trilled, and the perfumed whirl went on ... And
suddenly the wind veered!

Again the Star reeled, and shuddered, and turned, and began to
drag all her anchors. But she now dragged away from the great
building and its lights,--away from the voluptuous thunder of the
grand piano, even at that moment outpouring the great joy of
Weber's melody orchestrated by Berlioz: l'Invitation a la
Valse,--with its marvellous musical swing!

--"Waltzing!" cried the captain. "God help them!--God help us
all now! ... The Wind waltzes to-night, with the Sea for his
partner!" ...

O the stupendous Valse-Tourbillon! O the mighty Dancer!
One--two--three! From northeast to east, from east to southeast,
from southeast to south: then from the south he came, whirling