CHAPTER XV.
THE STORM Bob came down, wondering why he was not allowed to stay at the maintop for a while longer.
"Oh! Oh!" exclaimed Mr.Tarbill when the boy reached the deck.
"You've given me such a fright!" "I didn't mean to," replied Bob honestly enough.
"Oh, but you did! I think I'll have to go to my cabin and take some nerve medicine." The passenger left the deck, and Mr.Carr said: "Don't do that again, Bob." "No, sir; not if you don't want me to." "It's too dangerous," added the first mate.
Bob was not very sharply reprimanded by Captain Spark for this escapade, as the commander realized that the boy meant no harm.
But it was several days before Mr.Tarbill got over the shock.
Urged on by brisk winds the _Eagle_ made excellent speed, and several days before he calculated he would reach it Captain Spark found his vessel "crossing the line"; that is, passing over the imaginary circle which marks the equator.

Bob enjoyed his life on board the ship more than ever, now that the tropics were reached.
The usual pranks were indulged in by the sailors when Father Neptune came aboard the day the line was crossed, and Bob came in for not a little horse-play.

But he did not mind it, and in turn he played several jokes on the sailors and was not rebuked.

It was a time of freedom from restraint.
Continuing on south, the _Eagle_ passed from the hot region, and once more was in the temperate zone.

But now the weather, which had been fine for several weeks, began to show signs of a change.
"We'll soon be in for a troublesome time," said the captain as he sat in the main cabin one night, looking over some charts.
"How ?" asked Bob.
"We're approaching the Horn.