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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。
〃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 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； 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 knees ere it subsided into the lagoon。 The sun had disappeared； and a
lead…colored twilight settled down。 A few drops of rain； driving horizontally；
struck him。 The impact was like that of leaden pellets。 A splash of salt spray
struck his face。 It was like the slap of a man's hand。 His cheeks stung； and
involuntary tears of pain were in his smarting eyes。 Several hundred natives
had taken to the trees； and he could have laughed at the bunches of human
fruit clustering in the tops。 Then； being Tahitian…born； he doubled his body
at the waist； clasped the trunk of his tree with his hands； pressed the soles
of his feet against the near surface of the trunk； and began to walk up the
tree。 At the top he found two women； two children； and a man。 One little girl
clasped a housecat in her arms。
From his eyrie he waved his hand to Captain Lynch； and that doughty patriarch
waved back。 Raoul was appalled at the sky。 It had approached much nearerin
fact； it seemed just over his head； and it had turned from lead to black。 Many
people were still on the ground grouped about the bases of the trees and
holding on。 Several such clusters were praying； and in one the Mormon
missionary was exhorting。 A weird sound； rhythmical； faint as the fainte