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〃What do you read it？〃 Captain Lynch asked anxiously； rubbing his
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spectables and staring again at the instrument。
〃Twenty…nine…ten；〃 said Raoul。 〃I have never seen it so low before。〃
〃I should say not！〃 snorted the captain。 〃Fifty years boy and man on all
the seas； and I've never seen it go down to that。 Listen！〃
They stood for a moment； while the surf rumbled and shook the house。
Then they went outside。 The squall had passed。 They could see the Aorai
lying becalmed a mile away and pitching and tossing madly in the
tremendous seas that rolled in stately procession down out of the northeast
and flung themselves furiously upon the coral shore。 One of the sailors
from the boat pointed at the mouth of the passage and shook his head。
Raoul looked and saw a white anarchy of foam and surge。
〃I guess I'll stay with you tonight； Captain；〃 he said； then turned to the
sailor and told him to haul the boat out and to find shelter for himself and
fellows。
〃Twenty…nine flat；〃 Captain Lynch reported； coming out from another
look at the barometer； a chair in his hand。
He sat down and stared at the spectacle of the sea。 The sun came out；
increasing the sultriness of the day； while the dead calm still held。 The seas
continued to increase in magnitude。
〃What makes that sea is what gets me；〃 Raoul muttered petulantly。
〃There is no wind； yet look at it； look at that fellow there！〃
Miles in length； carrying tens of thousands of tons in weight； its
impact shook the frail atoll like an earthquake。 Captain Lynch was startled。
〃Gracious！〃 he bellowed； half rising from his chair； then sinking back。
〃But there is no wind；〃 Raoul persisted。 〃I could understand it if there
was wind along with it。〃
〃You'll get the wind soon enough without worryin' for it；〃 was the
grim reply。
The two men sat on in silence。 The sweat stood out on their skin in
myriads of tiny drops that ran together； forming blotches of moisture；
which； in turn； coalesced into rivulets that dripped to the ground。 They
panted for breath； the old man's efforts being especially painful。 A sea
swept up the beach； licking around the trunks of the cocoanuts and
subsiding almost at their feet。
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〃Way past high water mark；〃 Captain Lynch remarked； 〃and I've been
here eleven years。〃 He looked at his watch。 〃It is three o'clock。〃
A man and woman； at their heels a motley following of brats and curs；
trailed disconsolately by。 They came to a halt beyond the house； and； after
much irresolution； sat down in the sand。 A few minutes later another
family trailed in from the opposite direction； the men and women carrying
a heterogeneous assortment of possessions。 And soon several hundred
persons of all ages and sexes were congregated about the captain's
dwelling。 He called to one new arrival； a woman with a nursing babe in
her arms； and in answer received the information that her house had just
been swept into the lagoon。
This was the highest spot of land in miles； and already； in many places
on either hand； the great seas were making a clean breach of the slender
ring of the atoll and surging into the lagoon。 Twenty miles around
stretched the ring of the atoll； and in no place was it more than fifty
fathoms wide。 It was the height of the diving season； and from all the
islands around； even as far as Tahiti； the natives had gathered。
〃There are twelve hundred men； women； and children here；〃 said
Captain Lynch。 〃I wonder how many will be here tomorrow morning。〃
〃But why don't it blow？that's what I want to know；〃 Raoul
demanded。
〃Don't worry； young man； don't worry； you'll get your troubles fast
enough。〃
Even as Captain Lynch spoke； a great watery mass smote the atoll。
The sea water churned about them three inches deep under the chairs。
A low wail of fear went up from the many women。 The children； with
clasped hands； stared at the immense rollers and cried piteously。 Chickens
and cats； wading perturbedly in the water； as by common consent； with
flight and scramble took refuge on the roof of the captain's house。 A
Paumotan； with a litter of new…born puppies in a basket； climbed into a
cocoanut tree and twenty feet above the ground made the basket fast。 The
mother floundered about in the water beneath； whining and yelping。
And still the sun shone brightly and the dead calm continued。 They
sat and watched the seas and the insane pitching of the Aorai。 Captain
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Lynch gazed at the huge mountains of water sweeping in until he could
gaze no more。 He covered his face with his hands to shut out the sight；
then went into the house。
〃Twenty…eight…sixty；〃 he said quietly when he returned。
In his arm was a coil of small rope。 He cut it into two…fathom lengths；
giving one to Raoul and； retaining one for himself； distributed the
remainder among the women with the advice to pick out a tree and climb。
A light air began to blow out of the northeast； and the fan of it on his
cheek seemed to cheer Raoul up。 He could see the Aorai trimming her
sheets and heading off shore； and he regretted that he was not on her。 She
would get away at any rate； but as for the atollA sea breached across；
almost sweeping him off his feet； and he selected a tree。 Then he
remembered the barometer and ran back to the house。 He encountered
Captain Lynch on the same errand and together they went in。
〃Twenty…eight…twenty；〃 said the old mariner。 〃It's going to be fair hell
around herewhat was that？〃
The air seemed filled with the rush of something。 The house quivered
and vibrated； and they heard the thrumming of a mighty note of sound。
The windows rattled。 Two panes crashed； a draught of wind tore in；
striking them and making them stagger。 The door opposite banged shut；
shattering the latch。 The white door knob crumbled in fragments to the
floor。 The room's walls bulged like a gas balloon in the process of sudden
inflation。 Then came a new sound like the rattle of musketry； as the
spray from a sea struck the wall of the house。 Captain Lyncyh looked at
his watch。 It was four o'clock。 He put on a coat of pilot cloth； unhooked
the barometer； and stowed it away in a capacious pocket。 Again a sea
struck the house； with a heavy thud； and the light building tilted； twisted；
quarter around on its foundation； and sank down； its floor at an angle of
ten degrees。
Raoul went out first。 The wind caught him and whirled him away。
He noted that it had hauled around to the east。 With a great effort he threw
himself on the sand； crouching and holding his own。 Captain Lynch；
driven like a wisp of straw； sprawled over him。 Two of the Aorai'S sailors；
leaving a cocoanut tree to which they had been clinging； came to their aid；
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leaning against the wind at impossible angles and fighting and clawing
every inch of the way。
The old man's joints were stiff and he could not climb； so the sailors；
by means of short ends of rope tied together； hoisted him up the trunk； a
few feet at a time； till they could make him fast； at the top of the tree； fifty
feet from the ground。 Raoul passed his length of rope around the base of
an adjacent tree and stood looking on。 The wind was frightful。 He had
never dreamed it could blow so hard。 A sea breached across the atoll；
wetting him to the knee