At this ominous warning Mr. Tarbill seemed to collapse.  However, with Bob’s help he donned one of the cork jackets, and the boy did likewise.  Captain Spark would not allow them on deck, but promised to give them timely warning if the ship struck.

Then came an hour of anxious waiting.  Outside there sounded the dash of rain, the screaming of the wind, and the rush of sailors about the deck as they hastened to obey the captain’s commands.

Then, very gradually, there seemed to come a slack in the storm.  The ship rode more easily, and Bob began to take heart.  A little later Mr. Carr came down into the cabin.  He breathed a sigh of relief as he said: 

“We’re all right.  We’ve passed the reef and we have nothing more to fear for the present.  The gale is going down.”

“That’s the best news I’ve heard in a year!” exclaimed Mr. Tarbill.  “Never again will I take a sea voyage for my health.  I’ve lost seven pounds to-night, I know I have.”

Mr. Carr’s words were soon verified.  When morning broke the wind and rain had ceased, though there was still a heavy sea on, which made the Eagle toss and pitch in a dangerous way.

Bob managed to get out on deck, however, and, through the clear atmosphere that followed the storm, he saw the dim outlines of Terra del Fuego—­“The Land of Fire”—­as part of the end of the South American continent is called.

They finished the passage of the Straits of Magellan without further incident.  After that it seemed as if their troubles would be at an end.  The sea went down, and, as they made the turn around the South American coast and once more began to approach the equator, the Eagle skimmed along like the bird whose name it bore.

“If this weather and the fair breezes keep up,” said Captain Spark one day, “we’ll arrive ahead of time.”

“I guess you didn’t think so during the storm, did you?” inquired Bob.

“No indeed!  It seemed as if it was going to be touch and go with us one spell.  But how do you like your trip—­so far?”

“Very much.”

“I’m glad of it.  I promised your mother it would do you good, and I think it will.”

Captain Spark was secretly delighted with the success of his experiment.  He thought Bob had given up all his tricks, but that same day showed how much mistaken he was.  The boy, seeing a chance to have some sport with one of the sailors—­a German—­sewed up the sleeves of the man’s Jersey.  When the man tumbled out of his bunk, in a hurry to take his watch on deck, he could not understand the reason why he could not put on his garment.

“Vot’s der madder?” he exclaimed, struggling with the sleeves.  “Der vitches haf been at vork!  I am bevitched!”

“More like that onery critter of a boy done it,” suggested his messmate, a practical Yankee.

“So?  I plays a joke on him, alretty yet.  Vatch.”