All that night we sat up as I have described, now and then dozing off for a short time, but then waking up again as the ship gave a more tremendous plunge than before.  At last the captain came and lay down on the sofa, and seeing that we were all safe, went to sleep; but he was soon on deck again, and remained there till daylight.  All that day the gale blew as hard, if not harder than ever, and we went rolling and pitching away before it.  All the people were sent below except the hands at the wheel, and they secured themselves there, lest they should be washed away by the seas which threatened every moment to break aboard us.  As to looking out, all we could see were the foaming mountains of water rising up in broken masses around us, and the sheets of spray which never-ceasingly flew over us.  Night came on again, and matters had not mended.  The glass was still lower than ever.  Jerry and I had managed to shift our clothes, so that we were more comfortable than on the former night, and old Surley had had a lesson not to venture on deck again.  His coat was thus dry, and we all lay down together to pass the night.  Having scarcely closed our eyes the night before, we soon went to sleep.  Never have I slept more soundly.  Suddenly I woke up.  The ship was plunging as heavily as before, and the wind was howling and the sea roaring as loudly as ever.  Still only half awake, I found my way up the companion-ladder.  I looked out.  No one was to be seen on deck--the dark mountain seas and the confused mass of rigging could alone be perceived.  I cast my eyes aloft?  What was that I saw?  High up in the air, at the main-topmast-head, there was perched a ball of fire.  I was so astonished, and, I may say, alarmed, that I could not speak.  What could the phenomenon portend?  It stayed there for some time, then all of a sudden it glided down, and went out to the main-top-sail yard-arm-- a bright, glowing, flaming ball.  It will be setting the ship on fire! I thought that I would go and rouse up some one to tell what I had seen, in case there was any danger to be apprehended.  Still I could not tear myself away from my post.  I shouted out to Jerry, but he did not hear me.  I was just returning below when I found Cousin Silas at my shoulder.