THE FLOW OF THE ATMOSPHERE. 79 



for the approaching breeze. But there are times 

 when no such warning is given when the atmos- 

 phere j.s perfectly still, the sea calm as glass, and 

 the vessel floats motionless with her sails hanging 

 idly from the yards, as if she were 



"A painted ship upon a painted ocean.'* 



Suddenly, and before preparation can be made to 

 withstand it, the hurricane bursts in appalling fury 

 over the sea : the sails are blown to ribbons ; the 

 masts, perhaps, broken down; and frequently the 

 vessel itself overwhelmed and sent to the bottom. 

 Many a gallant ship, which has left the harbour 

 ably commanded and well manned, and never more 

 been heard of, has doubtless gone down in sadden 

 storms such as those we have referred to. 



But the inventions of science have now very 

 much lessened the danger of these storms. The 

 barometer, by the sudden fall of its column of mer- 

 cury, tells, as plainly and certainly as if it spoke with 

 an audible voice, that a storm is approaching, even 

 though all nature should appear to contradict the 

 fact by its calm and serene aspect; so that the crew 

 thus warned have time to furl the sails, fasten down 

 the hatches, and otherwise prepare to face the im- 

 pending danger. 



The atmosphere flows in a grand harmonious 

 system of currents and counter-currents, with their 

 corresponding eddies, just like the ocean ; and the 

 grand final results of its varied action are, to equalize 



