Part 30 (2/2)

”The survey boat,” he said, giving Whitney the gla.s.ses. ”She must be near the edge of King William's Bank, and we'll find an ugly sea running there. You'd better start the pump.”

It was hard work, for when Whitney unscrewed the plug on deck the sea poured down the pipe to meet the water he forced out, and the boat's wild plunges threw him against the coaming; but he persevered. As they were likely to find the sea worse, she must be cleared of water before more came on board. It was some time before the pump sucked and only froth came up; then Whitney precariously balanced himself on the cabin-top with his hand upon the boom while he looked about.

Every now and then the straining storm-jib plunged into a sea that curled in foam across the bows, throwing showers of spray into the hollow of the staysail. Then the bowsprit swung high above the turmoil and the water blew away in streams from the canvas while a frothy cataract poured aft down the uplifted deck. When he glanced to windward the spray lashed his face, but he distinguished a rolling steamer some distance off. There was no smoke about her funnel, and after watching her for a few moments he did not think she moved.

”Lying head to sea,” he said to Andrew. ”Rankine might as well run into the harbor: he won't do much sounding to-night.”

”That's plain. It doesn't look as if he thought sounding his most important job. Haul down the staysail.”

Whitney scrambled forward, and when he let go the halyard he dropped on hands and knees. The straining sail would not run down the wire to which it was fastened, and he must cross the narrow deck to free it.

He did not want to go; for the _Rowan_ buried her bows as she plunged, and the foam boiled over them a foot in depth; but the whitening of the sea to windward showed that a savage squall was on its way. He reached the inboard end of the bowsprit and held fast while a comber washed across the rail, and then, rising half upright, he seized the line that hung from the head of the sail. The loosened canvas thrashed him; he was swung to and fro, in danger of going overboard; but he held on until the sail came down with a run and fell on to his knees.

The plunges were not quite so vicious when he got back to the c.o.c.kpit, but the alteration in the sail-spread made steering difficult, and Andrew strained against the pull of the tiller-line as he drove her through the squall.

In the meantime, the _Rowan_ had drawn nearer to the steamer, which now lay close ahead, rolling until her deck sloped like a roof, and then lurching back with her streaming side lifted high above the sea.

Andrew went about and then ran close to leeward, where they checked the _Rowan_ by hauling her jib aback. A man in oilskins leaned out from the steamer's bridge, and the fading light touched his wet face.

”It's Rankine,” said Andrew. ”We must try to make him hear.”

The next moment a shout came down across the broken seas that rolled between the vessels.

”Yacht, ahoy! What d'you want?”

”To see you!” Andrew answered, throwing his voice to windward with all his force. ”Important!”

Rankine steadied himself against the rail, with his gla.s.ses at his eyes.

”The _Rowan_; Mr. Johnstone! Could you jump on board our gig?”

”Can't leave the boat!” shouted Andrew, letting her forge ahead a few yards nearer.

Rankine made a sign of comprehension.

”Very well. Follow us into shelter!”

Andrew waved his arm, and, tr.i.m.m.i.n.g the jib over, drove the _Rowan_ ahead. As he did so, the steamer's screw splashed round half out of water, and she slowly turned toward the north.

”That's not the way to Ramsey,” Whitney grumbled.

”No,” said Andrew. ”I guess he has some reason for not going there. He means to run in behind the Mull, though it's farther off.”

Whitney frowned as he glanced across the wild stretch of foaming water toward a twinkling stream of light. He was numbed and wet; it was now getting dark and the bitter wind seemed freshening to a gale; but Andrew meant to follow the steamer, and there was nothing to be said.

The only comfort was that their change of course brought the wind farther aft and the _Rowan_ would sail fast.

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