Part 2 (1/2)

”There's no call for hurry,” said Murry. ”But when ye can lay a point inside--well, half a point--do it. The sky's getting kind o' hazy.”

We had run well down the coast, slipping over the small waves, and darting merrily along. The boat was sailing well up in the wind, close hauled; and every now and then, with all my care, I could not prevent the sail shaking a bit. This back lift required me to keep away farther out, and then we found the wind coming more abeam, and fresher at times. Again it died away, and luffed up once more.

All this time the sun was blazing hot, like a furnace heat in its effects. Even the wind was warm, and appeared as if from a stove-pipe.

It was nearly midday, and the heat was tremendous. So I suggested lunch.

”Suppose we stand out a while, Murry, and pipe to dinner.”

”Ay, ay,” he replied, with a grin at my a.s.sumption of phrase. ”It's eight bells, ain't it? Then make it so!”

”We don't want any 'observations,' Murry, I think,” said I, smiling.

”No, sir; I ain't going to offer any except 'Hands, splice the mainbrace!'”

Tim laughed, and handed out the beer jar, and a quant.i.ty of slices of beef and bacon, some bread and condiments, pickled onions in a bottle, and a huge piece of strong cheese. Altogether it was a splendid dinner, and we fell to, lying gently over to the wind, and enjoyed the fare, the ”s.h.i.+p” almost steering herself.

”Well, that's good catering, Tim. I think you are a splendid steward for a small craft,” I said, after an interval, during which our attentions had been directed to the thwarts, on which our food was spread. ”Now I think we may clear up, and keep our course.”

”The weather don't seem so willing to clear up, though,” said Murry.

”That big, black cloud is sailing up hand over fist. That's a thun'er squall, sir, and we'd better reef the mainsail.”

”For a summer squall like that!” I exclaimed. ”Why, we shall be under shelter of the cliff before it comes up; and its coming off sh.o.r.e, you see, not on sh.o.r.e.”

”Exactly,” replied Murry, rising. ”Bear a hand, Tim, my lad. Get in a couple of reefs. Lower the foresail afore ye come aft.”

”Oh, come, Murry! I believe you're frightened. Why, it's only a puff off sh.o.r.e, anyway.”

”That's just it, sir. Tie them reefs, Tim, smart. The squall will catch us out here unless ye luff up, Mister Jule.”

”I am luffing up all I can,” I replied. ”The beastly s.h.i.+p won't stand up to it, somehow! What's the matter?”

”It's the thun'er in the air does it. Ye see the breeze is backin' and fillin'. Give me the tiller, and go ye forward with Tim. Now, just be easy.”

Murry did not often interfere with my sailing, and, therefore, I made no further objection to vacate the post of honour. He loosed the sheet, and held it in his left hand while steering the boat. Ever and anon he cast a glance above the cliff in the direction of which we were running obliquely to save all possible wind, but we did not make so much headway, as we wished to reach beneath the point of Ratcham Head for shelter.

”There she comes,” cried Tim. ”What a black 'un! Whiz! that's lightnin', sure.”

”Yes, certainly. We're in for it, I think,” I replied.

”Father don't like it, I can see. He's allus skeered in a big storm.

Mother, she was struck that-a-way,” he whispered.

”How dreadful! In a boat you mean?”

”In this very boat it was. They was out lookin' after nets. Father he was stoopin' forrad, a'most in the water, and mother she was steerin', when _smack_ come the lightnin' and kill her stone dead, settin' up like a statoo, she was; and when father shouted at her to keep up, she set, and set, until he went on savage, and then found her struck.

There it is again!”

It was! Behind the cliff, which showed up whiter than ever, an immense bank of cloud was extended as far as we could see landwards, but only occupying a portion of the sky on both sides. To east, west, and south the horizon was clear, but great hanging tendrils were seeking to grip the blue below, and were curling up and retreating or advancing by turns; but apparently also always gaining ground, though the movement of the ma.s.s was imperceptible to us. Nevertheless, the blackness increased, and at length the rumbling of the thunder became distinctly audible.