The stay sail was run down, but the men hung back from ascending the shrouds of the main mast.
"They are afraid of those lights," Fairclough said, "but I do not think there is the slightest danger from them." "I will go up, myself, sir," Hardy said; and he ran up the starboard shrouds while, at the same moment, one of the midshipmen led the way on the port side.

The sailors at once followed their officers.
The latter had nearly reached the yard, when the two balls of fire began to roll along it, joined in the centre, and then slowly ascended the topmast.

The fireballs paused there for half a minute, and then vanished.
"Now, Eden," the lieutenant said, "let us get the work done, at once, before that fellow makes his appearance again." The men followed them out on the yard, and worked in desperate haste, with occasional glances up at the mast head.

In a couple of minutes the sail was firmly secured in its gaskets, and all made their way below.
"Thank goodness, here it comes, at last," Fairclough said; "the suspense is more trying than the gale itself." A low murmur was heard, and a faint pale light was soon visible to the south.
"Get ready to hold on, all!" he shouted to the men.
The sound momentarily increased in volume, and the distant light brightened until a long line of white foam was clearly discernible.
It approached with extraordinary speed.

There was a sudden puff of air.