Part 21 (1/2)
”I have a cask of salted herrings, soood wife, who is out , can supply when she comes home,”
said the pilot ”May be we shall find soe”
Fortunately for the fugitives the goodwife soon returned hoave of themselves, she seemed to take as warm an interest in them as did her husband, by her exertions Joe Savin and hissummoned, the little vessel was quickly provisioned
There was still so bid farewell to the old pilot and his wife
”Now, Joe, let us get under weigh,” said Stephen ”As I have been to sea I can lend you a hand, and will either take the helm or help you forward”
”You will take the helSier-handed than usual, for even when old Mr Headland is aboard, though he has got a head on his shoulders, he has not ” The main-sail was soon set, the anchor, with the assistance of Andrew and Sian to glide out of the cove They had just got off the southern point of the bay when they saw a nu the cliff towards the he did not observe them particularly, but Andrew and Si at theht of the boat, the soldiers were seen to beckon vehemently, as if to call her back
”Very unlikely that ill do that,” said Stephen ”The fellows have somehow or other found out e are, and old Mr Headland will, I fear, be the sufferer”
”If those soldiers want us, should not we put back?” asked Joe
”The very reason we should not,” said Stephen ”We should do no good, and should certainly have our voyage delayed”
Just as he was speaking the sail gave a flap; the boat was becalround
”Get out the oars, lads; we must make the best of our way froot out the oars, and Andrew and Simon assisted them to pull They had notover their heads
”Pull away,” cried Stephen; ”we shall soon be out of range, and in a few ain”
The soldiers once e; the third went through the esticulated more veheestion, took not the slightest notice of theht and main till the breeze once more filled the sails and rapidly freshened The boat now stood away to the southward, and was soon out of range of the soldiers' muskets
”Perhaps after all we shall be followed,” remarked Andrew
”No fear of that,” said Joe ”There is not a man left in the harbour to take out a boat; the chances are the soldiers are not able to pull themselves or they would have been after us by this tihtfall we shall be well away froreatly relieved thefree, and, should the fine weather continue, be able to land in Holland Stephen's chief anxiety was for the old pilot; the horses would very likely be taken froht too probably be carried off as a prisoner for having enabled rebels to escape Though they had not witnessed the cruelties practised by Colonel Kirk and his lambs, Simon had told hi up on the Bussex oak directly after the action They were justly afraid that Mr Headland one back we could have done no good,” Stephen said to hiain For some hours the weather continued fine, and the boat ht a dark bank of clouds rose to the eastward, threatening a gale
”What do you think of it, Joe?” asked Stephen
”We shall catch it, but the boat will float like a cork; ill shorten sail in good tih we shall not make much of our way towards Holland till it is over, I have a notion”
The boat, it should be understood, was only half-decked; but she had good high sides, and was provided ater-ways, so that unless the gale should prove of unusual violence, they had no reason to fear for their safety Though Andrew had lived near the sea, he had seldom been afloat, and Simon had never even seen the ocean before At first he had been highly pleased with its appearance, but now that he saw the dark leaden foaan to look as if he would rather have been safe on shore; but he was a stout-hearted fellow, and was not disposed to give way to idle fears The boat began to pitch and tumble about, and to take the water over her bows
”I will go to the helh I see you kno to handle a boat in smooth water, it is a very different ave up the helm, and stood by with the lad to shorten sail, should it be necessary Two reefs had already been taken down, and the little vessel went bobbing away over the dark foaht, as Joe affirmed, be the best sea-boat out of Kenway Cove, but she was certainly not a fast craft, and was inclined to make asover to the French coast, but Stephen and his friends were unwilling to land there except in a case of great necessity Should they be discovered, the French Government, ere friendly with James, would be very likely to hand theet into soht live unnoticed, and engage the or some other employment The wind increased; now the rain cah those ere but ill-protected, old Joe, in a thick woollen coat, and a pipe in hisas unconcerned as if it were a fine suet into the cuddy
”You ain't of much use,” he observed, ”and there is no reason why you should get wet through to do no one good Mr Stephen here h to want his help; he has shown that he can give it”
Andrew and Sih they did not feel co and the treainst the bow of the vessel, effectually prevented theain