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ed a few steps nearer； and looked about him。 Was it possible that； in his madness； the chaplain had been about to commit some violence which had drawn the trusty Gimblett from his post？ 〃Gr…r…r…r！ Ouph！〃 The trusty Gimblett was lying at his feetdead drunk！
〃Hi！ Hiho！ Hillo there！〃 roared somebody from the jetty below。 〃Be that you； Muster Noarth？ We ain't too much tiam； sur！〃
From the uncurtained windows of the chaplain's house on the hill beamed the newly…lighted candle。 They in the boat did not see it； but it brought to the prisoner a wild hope that made his heart bound。 He ran back to the cell； clapped on North's wide…awake； and flinging the cloak hastily about him； came quickly down the steps。 If the moon should shine out now！
〃Jump in； sir；〃 said unsuspecting Mannix； thinking only of the flogging he had been threatened with。 〃It'll be a dirty night； this night！ Put this over your knees； sir。 Shove her off！ Give way！〃 And they were afloat。 But one glimpse of moonlight fell upon the slouched hat and cloaked figure； and the boat's crew； engaged in the dangerous task of navigating the reef in the teeth of the rising gale； paid no attention to the chaplain。
〃By George； lads； we're but just in time！〃 cried Mannix； and they laid alongside the schooner； black in blackness。 〃Up ye go； yer honour； quick！〃 The wind had shifted； and was now off the shore。 Blunt； who had begun to repent of his obstinacy； but would not confess it； thought the next best thing to riding out the gale was to get out to open sea。 〃Damn the parson；〃 he had said； in all heartiness； 〃we can't wait all night for him。 Heave ahead； Mr。 Johnson！〃 And so the anchor was atrip as Rufus Dawes ran up the side。
The Commandant； already pulling off in his own boat； roared a coarse farewell。 〃Good…bye； North！ It was touch and go with ye！〃 adding； 〃Curse the fellow； he's too proud to answer！〃
The chaplain indeed spoke to no one； and plunging down the hatchway； made for the stern cabins。 〃Close shave； your reverence！〃 said a respectful somebody； opening a door。 It was； but the clergyman did not say so。 He double…locked the door； and hardly realizing the danger he had escaped； flung himself on the bunk； panting。 Over his head he heard the rapid tramp of feet and the cheery
Yo hi…oh！ and a rumbelow！
of the men at the capstan。 He could smell the sea； and through the open window of the cabin could distinguish the light in the chaplain's house on the hill。 The trampling ceased； the vessel began to move slowly the Commandant's boat appeared below him for an instant； making her way back the Lady Franklin had set sail。 With his eyes fixed on the tiny light； he strove to think what was best to be done。 It was hopeless to think that he could maintain the imposture which； favoured by the darkness and confusion； he had hitherto successfully attempted。 He was certain to be detected at Hobart Town； even if he could lie concealed during his long and tedious voyage。 That mattered little； however。 He had saved Sylvia； for North had been left behind。 Poor North！ As the thought of pity came to him； the light he looked at was suddenly extinguished； and Rufus Dawes； compelled thereto as by an irresistible power； fell upon his knees and prayed for the pardon and happiness of the man who had redeemed him。
* * * * * *
〃That's a gun from the shore；〃 said Partridge the mate； 〃and they're burning a red light。 There's a prisoner escaped。 Shall we lie…to？〃
〃Lie…to！〃 cried old Blunt； with a tremendous oath。 〃We'll have suthin' else to do。 Look there！〃
The sky to the northward was streaked with a belt of livid green colour； above which rose a mighty black cloud； whose shape was ever changing。
CHAPTER XVIII。
THE CYCLONE。
Bunt； recognising the meteoric heralds of danger； had begun to regret his obstinacy。 He saw that a hurricane was approaching。
Along the south coast of the Australian continent； though the usual westerly winds and gales of the highest latitudes prevail during the greater portion of the year； hurricanes are not infrequent。 Gales commence at NW with a low barometer； increasing at W and SW； and gradually veering to the south。 True cyclones occur at New Zealand。 The log of the Adelaide for 29th February； 1870； describes one which travelled at the rate of ten miles an hour； and had all the veerings； calm centre； etc。； of a true tropical hurricane。 Now a cyclone occurring off the west coast of New Zealand would travel from the New Hebrides； where such storms are hideously frequent； and envelop Norfolk Island； passing directly across the track of vessels coming from South America to Sydney。 It was one of these rotatory storms； an escaped tempest of the tropics； which threatened the Lady Franklin。
The ominous calm which had brooded over the island during the day had given place to a smart breeze from the north…east； and though the schooner had been sheltered at her anchorage under the lee of the island （the 〃harbour〃 looked nearly due south）； when once fairly out to sea； Blunt saw it would be impossible to put back in the teeth of the gale。 Haply； however； the full fury of the storm would not overtake them till they had gained sea…room。
Rufus Dawes； exhausted with the excitement through which he had passed； had slept for two or three hours； when he was awakened by the motion of the vessel going on the other tack。 He rose to his feet； and found himself in complete darkness。 Overhead was the noise of trampling feet； and he could distinguish the hoarse tones of Blunt bellowing orders。 Astonished at the absence of the moonlight which had so lately silvered the sea； he flung open the cabin window and looked out。 As we have said； the cabin allotted to North was one of the two stern cabins； and from it the convict had a full view of the approaching storm。
The sight was one of wild grandeur。 The huge； black cloud which hung in the horizon had changed its shape。 Instead of a curtain it was an arch。 Beneath this vast and magnificent portal shone a dull phosphoric light。 Across this livid space pale flashes of sheet…lightning passed noiselessly。 Behind it was a dull and threatening murmur； made up of the grumbling of thunder； the falling of rain； and the roar of contending wind and water。 The lights of the prison…island had disappeared； so rapid had been the progress of the schooner under the steady breeze； and the ocean stretched around； black and desolate。 Gazing upon this gloomy expanse； Rufus Dawes observed a strange phenomenonlightning appeared to burst upwards from the sullen bosom of the sea。 At intervals； the darkly…rolling waves flashed fire； and streaks of flame shot upwards。 The wind increased in violence； and the arch of light was fringed with rain。 A dull； red glow hung around； like the reflection of a conflagration。 Suddenly； a tremendous peal of thunder； accompanied by a terrific downfall of rain； rattled along the sky。 The arch of light disappeared； as though some invisible hand had shut the slide of a giant lantern。 A great wall of water rushed roaring over the level plain of the sea； and with an indescribable me