Part 14 (2/2)

”Slack off the weather foresheet, then, and haul aft the leeward. Slack out the mizzen sheet a little, Jack. That's it; now she's off again, like a duck.”

The Seabird felt the relief from the pressure of the heavy boom to leeward and rose easily and lightly over the waves.

”She certainly is a splendid seaboat, Tom; I don't wonder you are ready to go anywhere in her. I thought we were rather fools for starting this morning, although I enjoy a good blow; but now I don't care how hard it comes on.”

By night it was blowing a downright gale.

”We will lie to till morning, Watkins. So that we get in by daylight tomorrow evening, that is all we want. See our side lights are burning well, and you had better get up a couple of blue lights, in case anything comes running up Channel and don't see our lights. We had better divide into two watches; I will keep one with Matthews and Dawson, Mr. Harvey will go in your watch with Nicholls. We had better get the trysail down altogether, and lie to under the foresail and mizzen, but don't put many las.h.i.+ngs on the trysail, one will be enough, and have it ready to cast off in a moment, in case we want to hoist the sail in a hurry. I will go down and have a gla.s.s of hot grog first, and then I will take my watch to begin with. Let the two hands with me go down; the steward will serve them out a tot each. Jack, you had better turn in at once.”

Virtue was soon on deck again, m.u.f.fled up in his oilskins.

”Now, Watkins, you can go below and turn in.”

”I shan't go below tonight, sir--not to lie down. There's nothing much to do here, but I couldn't sleep, if I did lie down.”

”Very well; you had better go below and get a gla.s.s of grog; tell the steward to give you a big pipe with a cover like this, out of the locker; and there's plenty of chewing tobacco, if the men are short.”

”I will take that instead of a pipe,” Watkins said; ”there's nothing like a quid in weather like this, it aint never in your way, and it lasts. Even with a cover a pipe would soon be out.”

”Please yourself, Watkins; tell the two hands forward to keep a bright lookout for lights.”

The night pa.s.sed slowly. Occasionally a sea heavier than usual came on board, curling over the bow and falling with a heavy thud on the deck, but for the most part the Seabird breasted the waves easily; the bowsprit had been reefed in to its fullest, thereby adding to the lightness and buoyancy of the boat. Tom Virtue did not go below when his friend came up to relieve him at the change of watch, but sat smoking and doing much talking in the short intervals between the gusts.

The morning broke gray and misty, driving sleet came along on the wind, and the horizon was closed in as by a dull curtain.

”How far can we see, do you think, Watkins?”

”Perhaps a couple of miles, sir.”

”That will be enough. I think we both know the position of every reef to within a hundred yards, so we will shape our course for Guernsey. If we happen to hit it off, we can hold on to St. Helier, but if when we think we ought to be within sight of Guernsey we see nothing of it, we must lie to again, till the storm has blown itself out or the clouds lift.

It would never do to go groping our way along with such currents as run among the islands. Put the last reef in the trysail before you hoist it.

I think you had better get the foresail down altogether, and run up the spitfire jib.”

The Seabird was soon under way again.

”Now, Watkins, you take the helm; we will go down and have a cup of hot coffee, and I will see that the steward has a good supply for you and the hands; but first, do you take the helm, Jack, whilst Watkins and I have a look at the chart, and try and work out where we are, and the course we had better lie for Guernsey.”

Five minutes were spent over the chart, then Watkins went above and Jack Harvey came below.

”You have got the coffee ready, I hope, Johnson?”

”Yes, sir, coffee and chocolate. I didn't know which you would like.”

”Chocolate, by all means. Jack, I recommend the chocolate. Bring two full sized bowls, Johnson, and put that cold pie on the table, and a couple of knives and forks; never mind about a cloth; but first of all bring a couple of basins of hot water, we shall enjoy our food more after a wash.”

The early breakfast was eaten, dry coats and m.u.f.flers put on, pipes lighted, and they then went up upon deck. Tom took the helm.

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