Suddenly what breeze there had been died out, and the sloop lay motionless on the water. Dory told the crew to take in the jib, and instructed those stationed at this sail to stow it and secure it with the utmost care, so that it should not be blown out by the squall.
"There is the Marian," said Ash, as he saw her coming out from Burlington.
"What does she come out for when there is going to be a squall?" asked Ben.
"Because she will be safer out in the lake than at a wharf there, though she might get behind the breakwater. She will do very well in a squall. All she has to do, is to keep out of the trough of the sea, if it comes on very hard," replied Dory. "At the very worst, in a hurricane, she would put her head up to the sea, and keep her engine going. She will be all right unless her engine breaks down."
The lake was as smooth as glass, and the boat lay "like a painted ship upon a painted ocean." The members of the class looked at each other, and some of them were doubtless afraid.
"Man the peak-halyards," said Dory quietly. "Keep perfectly cool, and there is no particular hurry."
Syl and Hop went to the station indicated, but they were told to do nothing till the order was given; though the sail might as well be furled as set, so far as any use of it was concerned.
"It is coming now," said Dory, as he pointed to the New-York shore. "You can see the clouds of dust it is stirring up on the land."
A moment later, it struck the water, and the commotion could be seen.
It looked like a dense light cloud sweeping over the surface, while a roaring sound came in advance of it. Dory gave the order to let go the peak-halyards, and take in the jib.
"Now we are all right," said the skipper, as soon as the order was executed. "Here it comes. Hold on to your hats, and keep down in the boat."
The cloud swept down upon the sloop, and the squall struck her. Dory took the wheel himself. The mainsail flapped and banged with tremendous violence; but the boat was headed right into it, and no harm came from it. The water did not pile itself up into big waves at first. Almost as soon as it had come, it was over. A few moments later, Dory filled away with the mainsail: the peak still dropped, just holding wind enough to give her steerage-way.