Part 3 (1/2)

”We had a sharp brush with two of them, on the last voyage, but we beat them off. We were stronger then than we are now, for we had two hundred troops on board, and should have astonished them if they had come close enough to try boarding--in fact, we were slackening our fire, to tempt them to do so, when they made out that a large craft coming up astern was an English frigate, and sheered off.

”I don't know what the end of it was, but I rather fancy they were taken. The frigate followed them, gaining fast; and, later on, we could hear guns in the distance.”

”You did not join in the chase then, doctor?”

”Oh, no. Our business is not fighting. If we are attacked, of course we defend ourselves; but we don't go a foot out of our way, if we can help it.”

Three weeks at sea had done wonders for Mrs. Holland. Now that she was fairly embarked upon her quest, the expression of anxiety gradually died out. The sea air braced up her nerves, and, what was of still greater benefit to her, she was able to sleep soundly and dreamlessly, a thing she had not done for years. d.i.c.k was delighted at the change in her.

”You look quite a different woman, Mother,” he said. ”I don't think your friends at Shadwell would know you, if they were to see you now.”

”I feel a different woman, d.i.c.k. I have not felt so well and so bright since your father sailed on his last voyage. I am more convinced than ever that we shall succeed. I have been trying very hard, for years, to be hopeful, but now I feel so without trying. Of course, it is partly this lovely weather and the sea air, and sleeping so well; and partly because everyone is so kind and pleasant.”

As soon as the Madras had been headed for the south, she began to make better way. The wind freshened somewhat, but continued in the same quarter. Grumbling ceased over the bad luck they were having, and hopeful antic.i.p.ations that, after all, they would make a quick pa.s.sage were freely indulged in.

On the fourth day after changing her course, she was off the coast of Spain, which was but a hundred and fifty miles distant. At noon that day the wind dropped suddenly, and, an hour later, it was a dead calm.

”We are going to have a change, d.i.c.k,” the doctor said, as he stopped by the lad, who was leaning against the bulwark watching a flock of seabirds that were following a shoal of fish, das.h.i.+ng down among them with loud cries, and too intent upon their work to notice the s.h.i.+p, lying motionless a hundred yards away.

”What sort of a change, doctor?”

”Most likely a strong blow, though from what quarter it is too soon to say. However, we have no reason to grumble. After nearly a month of light winds, we must expect a turn of bad weather. I hope it will come from the north. That will take us down to the lat.i.tude of Madeira, and beyond that we may calculate upon another spell of fine weather, until we cross the Line.”

As the afternoon wore on, the weather became more dull. There were no clouds in the sky, but the deep blue was dimmed by a sort of haze.

Presently, after a talk between the captain and the first officer, the latter gave the order, ”All hands take in sail.”

The order had been expected, and the men at once swarmed up the rigging. In a quarter of an hour all the upper sails were furled. The light spars were then sent down to the deck.

”You may as well get the top-gallant sails off her, too, Mr. Green,”

the captain said to the first officer. ”It is as well to be prepared for the worst. It is sure to blow pretty hard, when the change comes.”

The top-gallant sails were got in, and when the courses had been brailed up and secured, the hands were called down. Presently the captain, after going to his cabin, rejoined Mr. Green.

”The gla.s.s has gone up again,” d.i.c.k heard him say.

”That looks as if it were coming from the north, sir.”

”Yes, with some east in it. It could not come from a better quarter.”

He turned and gazed steadily in that direction.

”Yes, there is dark water over there.”

”So there is, sir. That is all right. I don't mind how hard it blows, so that it does but come on gradually.”

”I agree with you. These hurricane bursts, when one is becalmed, are always dangerous, even when one is under bare poles.”

Gradually the dark line on the horizon crept up towards the s.h.i.+p. As it reached her the sails bellied out, and she began to move through the water. The wind increased in strength rapidly, and in half an hour she was running south at ten or eleven knots an hour. The thermometer had fallen many degrees, and as the sun set, the pa.s.sengers were glad to go below for shelter.