Beadle's Dime Novels No. 87: On the Deep — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

HANDS BY THE HALLIARDS. | 15 deny that I was surprised. I have no doubt that they had some good reason for keeping their hats on,” Loring then proceeded to explanations, concluding with the earnest assurance that he had. tried very hard to persuade the two officers to abandon their ridiculous plan. Before Grace could reply, a distant noise, like the humming of a swarm of bees, became perceptible. Turning their eyes toward the mass of clouds to windward, they saw two great columns of hazy vapor rolling round and round, as if upon invisible pivots, and sweeping toward the vessel with great rapidity. The tops of these gigantic pillars-were among the clouds, from which they sloped downward to the sea. The water beneath and around them was lashed into foam, and the spray could be seen leaping high above the waves, as though it was scooped up by a terrific whirlwind. The young officer hastily quitted the side of his fair. com- panion. | “Hands by the halliards! In with royals and to’gallant sails !” he shouted, in a voice that rung through every corner of the bark. : The lighter canvas was clewed in and furled. The fore and mizzen topsails were next stowed, after being double-reefed ; and very soon the vessel’s canvas was reduced toa close-reefed maintopsail, single-reefed foresail and foretopmast staysail. By this time every breath of air around the -bark seemed: to have died away. The atmosphere was almost stifling. There was not a wrinkle in either of the three sails. And yet, not quite a league off the weather-quarter, the approaching tempest raged and ‘howled with terrific fury. The two gigantic pil- Jars had dissolved in the rack and mist of the storm. -A far- extending network of driving rain; torn masses of black vapor, driven hither and thither ; the overhanging clouds, rolling and mingling in dark, sulphurous volumes, and the crests of the waves, whirled into spray by the lashing winds, formed a Strange contrast with the clear sky and sunny waters to Iee- ward. : Block and Capstan, who had come on deck while the ‘men ‘were shortening sail, stood near the mizzen-mast, alternately glancing aloft and to windward. “I don’t like the look of that main to’gallant.mast and connicloooks.com