The talk went on for days. Was the lion's head gold? Was it brass? Had it been Dr. Crider's? Where had it come from?
Then it was forgotten. There was something that mattered more. There was a storm.
It began with a few clouds. The air was heavy and hot. It seemed to press down until everyone felt restless. Some grew angry without knowing why.
A young gentleman came out of his room and threw his dish across the hold "The food on this ship can't for pigs!" he shouted.
Mistress Hopkins also talked in a loud void, "They said we would be in Virginia in five weeks. Now it's the and of July. Seven weeks we've been at the sea. How much longer will it be, I'd like to know?"
Amanda was on deck with Jemmy and Meg when the wind sprang up. It was a fierce, hot wind that burned their faces and tore at their clothes.
There was a long, blue flash of lightning, and thunder shook the ship. They ran for the hold. Jemmy went ahead. Amanda helped Meg down the ladder. It was dark as night in the hold. Someone lighted candles.
Amanda found a box for them to sit on, but Jemmy didnot sit down.
" I'm not going to stay here," he said. "There's no air to breathe."
Robert Waters came by and gave him a pat on the head."Don't you fret," he said." It's just another storm. It will soon blow over."
But it was more than just another storm.
A sailor came down to look for leaks.