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Mackerel Trolling» 185 a small boy, but whether it was his grandfathef or great-grand father who was the cabin-boy Ido not recollect. Anyhow, thus runs the tale. He had been såiling with a skipper as boy the whole summer, but when they were going out on a trip in the autumn, he got a sullen fit and would not join the ship. The skipper rather liked him, for although he was a young hand, he was very handy, and knew his work well ; he was a big and strong lad, and was not afraid to bend his back over a rope ; he was almost as useful as an able seaman, and he was always in a merry, lively humour, and kept up the spirits of all on board, so the skipper did not like the idea of losing him. But the lad had no mind to spend the autumn nights on salt water; however, he would stay on board till the cargo was in and they were ready to sail. One Sunday, when the crew had liberty ashore, and the skipper was gone to see a timber dealer about some planks and firewood for deck-cargo— something on his own account I suppose—the boy was to keep on board and look after the vessel. But I must not forget to tell you that the lad was born on a Sunday, and had found a card with the four of clubs ; therefore he was a seer, that is to say, he could see the supernatural people, but they could not see him." "We are going to have a nasty night," Rasmus interrupted himself, as he rose from his seat and held his hand up to protect his eyes against the ray of sunlight, which no w fell across the bright billows, to be able to see clearly in a southerly direction. " See how it's working up ; we shall have thunder and lightning. Best to go about in time ; there isn't a breath of air now ! We are lying here in still water and drift about like a bag of hay ; but wemusttakeinareefbeforeitisonus. Comeon,Jack!" While they were taking in the reef, I took the heim and watched the weather. It was now clear and perfectly calm. The wind had gone down, but our boat was rocking with the swell. Far to the south, above the horizon, stood a dark bank of cloud ; we saw it first like a narrow streak melting into sky and sea, but gradually it had risen like a wall or a cvrtain, on which a border of heavy, yellow, torn and twisted thunder-cloud soon appeared. At some