Part 23 (1/2)
”It's passing off now,” said Captain Gillespie, when he could make hier interval between theainst the sun, and we've now experienced the worst of it There goes our last sail, though, and we'll have to run for it now”
As he said the words the stor, hearing which showed that the as not so powerful quite as just nohen one, really, couldn't have heard a thirty-five ton gun fired forwards
On losing this her only scrap of canvas left, the shi+p half broached to
Joe Fergusson, however, ca the boatswain had said, for the gale was blowing so furiously that the captain would not have thought of ordering aTim Rooney's remark or from some sailor-like intuition, the ex-bricklayer in the very nick of ti forwards and loosened the weather clew of the foresail
Mr Mackay as aft, seeing his purpose, at once told the men at the wheel to put the hel off, she lifted out of the trough of the heavy rolling sea and scudded away nor'- eastwards right before the wind, which had now got back to the nor with previous to the stor with inal h with only this tiny scrap of her foresail set, was soon driving through the water at over twelve knots the hour, in the very direction, too, anted her to go, to fetch our port
”This is what I call turning the tables,” yelled the captain, putting both his hands to histrumpet as he roared out the words to Mr Mackay at the wheel ”By Jingo, it's turning the tail of a typhoon into a fair wind!”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ATTACKED BY THE PIRATES
It was ”the tail of a typhoon” with a vengeance; for as we raced onwards through the boiling sea, now lit up by a very watery moon, lots of broken spars and ti botto what the fury of the stores
Mr Mackay noticed these bits of wrecks and wreckage as the captain spoke; and,of pity for those who had perished in the tornado, caht to his mind
”Yes, sir,” said he in reply to Captain Gillespie's observation, ”we'rea fair wind out of a foul one; but, besides that, sir, we've got so else to thank the typhoon for, under Providence It has probably settled the hash of those piratical rascals that were chasing us!”
”Huot all about 'em,” snorted out ”Old Jock,” equally pleased at this idea ”No doubt they've gone to the bottoood luck to 'em too One can't feel sorry for such ver after honest craft, and who'd cut one's throat for a dollar”
”We h, sir,” continued the firstthe ale so far, and so ht they Those fellows are accusto; so, if they ran to ard in ti for it, as we did, theyahead of it”
”Pooh!” ejaculated ”Old Jock” conteain They're all down in Davy Jones' locker by this; and o with them, as I said before!”
”Well, sir,” said Mr Mackay, not pursuing his theory any further, and desirous of turning the conversation, if conversation it can be called when both were holding on still to the life-lines and shouting at each other , ”what are we to do now?”
”Carry-on, of course,” replied ”Old Jock,” with a squint up at the wateryclouds that ever and anon obscured its pale glea look black around theelse to be done but to let her scud before it until the gale has spent its force I e could get up soh”
”Would it be safe, sir?”
”Safe!” snorted ”Old Jock,” sniffing with his nose up directly ”Why, what the dickens have you got to be afraid of,in the shape of land near us for a hundred miles or more anywhere you chose to cast the lead”
”But, you forget, sir,” suggested the other good-huer the ”old ation; ”you forget the rate the shi+p's going--over twelve knots?”
”No, I don't forget, Mister Mackay; and, if ere going twenty it wouldn't htest difference,” retorted the captain, as thoroughly roused now, as the firsthim as ”Mister,” which he never did unless pretty orked up and in a general state of temper ”I'd have you to know I' I et so to make the best of this typhoon now, as it has ood turn deserves another”
Of course there was no arguing with him after this; so all Mr Mackay could do was to pass the word forward for Tim Rooney, and tell hiood atte to hail the boatswain, for not a word shouted could be heard beyond the poop
”Begorra, it's a risky ga Mr Mackay half-way on the ht thry lettin' out a schrap more av the fores'le, if the houl lot don't fetch away”
”We must try it,” returned Mr Mackay ”He will have it so”