No boat would live in such a sea.

"I will lay-to till this evening," said Captain Z---- "If it does not then abate, I fear you must make up your mind to return to Baku, and try again another day." A pleasant prospect indeed! [Illustration: A DIRTY NIGHT IN THE CASPIAN] I have seldom passed a more miserable twenty-four hours.

The weather got worse as the day wore on.

Towards midday it commenced snowing; but this, instead of diminishing the violence of the gale, seemed only to increase it.

Even the captain's cheery, ruddy face clouded over, as he owned that he did not like the look of things.