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Il8 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. than forty miles an hour; and he recognîzed the n'ecessîty of at once shortenîng sail. He had already used the précaution to take în the royal, the maîn-top-sail, and the flying jib, but he now at once resolved likewise to take in the top-gallant, and to hâve a couple of teefs in the fore- top-sail. To an inexperîenced crew, the last opération was far from easy; but there was no symptom of shrinking from it. Followed by Bat and Austin, Dick mounted the rigging of the foremast, and with little trouble got to the top-gallant Had the weather been less unpromising he would hâve been înclined to leave the two yards as they were, but anticipating the ultimate necessity of being obliged to lower the mast, he unrîgged them, and let them down to the deck; he knew well enough that in the event of the gale rising as he expected, the Icwering of the mast as well as the shortenîng of sail would contribute to diminish the strain and stress upon the vessel. It was the work of two hours to get thîs prelîmînary opération over. There still remained the task of taking in the reefs in the top-sail. The " Pilgrim " in one respect differed from most modern vessels. She did not carry a double foretop, which would very much hâve diminished the difficulty attending the reefing. It was consequently necessary to proceed as before; to mount the rigging, by main force to haul in the flapping canvas, and to make the fastening secure. But critical and dangerous as the task was, it was successfully accomplished, and the three young men, having descended safely to the deck, had the satisfaction of secing the schooner run easily before the wind, which had further increased till it was blowing a stifif gale. For three days the gale continued brisk and hard, yet wîthout any variation in its direction. But ail along the barometer was falling; the mercury sank to 28° without symptom of recovery. The sky was becoming overcast; clouds, thîck and lowering, obscured the sun, and it was difficult to make out where it rose or where it set. Dick dld bis best to keep up his courage, but Vve could not dis-