Part 21 (2/2)
They felt also very sick and uncoale increased, and old Joe deemed it necessary to take down the last reef and lower the fore-sail, keeping only the small storm-jib set The operation took so the jibs, a sea struck the bows, and carried hi to the forestay, or he would have, the next instant, been overboard; but he saved hiot the storm-jib hauled well on board before the next sea struck the vessel Sail being reduced, everything wasinto the cuddy, he inquired how his friends were getting on
”Very badly,” they both answered ”How soon is the gale likely to be over?”
”It is ih come on to blow harder; we shall then have to heave the vessel to, and wait till it decreases”
Andrew and Si this, and wished themselves safe on shore In a few minutes Joe determined to heave the vessel to, which was done under the storm-jib and mizzen, while thebroke, there the little vessel lay, riding on the leaden seas, and the dark clouds overhead, and ainst her Old Joe said they were pretty nearly about the spot where they were the night before--no nearer the French coast, no farther froland There see Joe put the lad, who had been sleeping ht, to watch the helm while he took a snooze The rest of the party had slept but little Stephen had not closed his eyes, but he now felt very weary, and could no longer keep awake, so he lay down in the cuddy, caring less for the thu sound than Andrew had done He slept on for so, the roaring of the seas, which ever and anon broke over the little vessel, half filling her ater Old Joe got the pu else, work away at it He kept them at it till their ar idle At last Stephen got up; he proposed that they should have so since the previous evening At first they declared that they could get nothing down He persuaded the his example, they succeeded better than they had expected, and were able again to turn to the pu, there is generally a clear sky, but on this occasion, cloudsfroh hove-to, as far as old Joe could calculate, aboutfast to leeward, farther and farther froo Old Joe proposed at length that they should run back to soainst this Stephen protested They had had a narrow escape as it was, and wherever they ht put in, they would be nearly certain to be suspected
”Then we must bear up for a French port,” said Joe
”That will only be a degree better,” observed Stephen
”Well, then, it is a choice of evils,” said Joe ”If we do not get into some port or other, and it should come on to blow harder than it does now, the chances are the craft will go down Better to be taken by the French”
”We will hope that the gale won't increase,” said Stephen, who having thus far succeeded in escaping from his enemies, was not inclined to despair His brother and Simon were more out of spirits about the ale would increase; not a break appeared in the clouds As long as the provisions lasted, and the boat could keep above water, Stephen deter considerably, and the provisions were becoale moderate they could scarcely hope to reach a Dutch port before their food would have co about They spoke little, though they had hts were not such as they could give expression to before others Joe, as generally a cheery old fellow, sat looking glum and downcast
”It is all very well for you to say you won't go back, but if we don't, as I said before, we shall go to the bottoet on as soon as the gale had abated He knew that it was as dangerous to run before the seas, when there would be a great probability of being pooped, as to re down channel he are How far they had got it was difficult to say To atte harbour, and ht be cast on soued the point with old Joe
”Well,” replied the latter, ”you must be answerable for whatever happens Reoes down it is your fault, not mine”
Stephen was half inclined to sly undertook to be responsible for whatever should occur, and going to the pue his co about as they had been doing for ue, Stephen lay down in the cuddy, hoping to snatch a short rest How long he had been asleep he could not tell, when he akened by a loud crash Starting up, he saw to his disone by the board Old Joe was equal to the eency ”Get out the oars, lads, and ill try and keep the craft's head to wind, while I cut away the wreck It is our only chance, for if she is brought broadside to the sea, she will fill in an instant and go down”
Toot out one of the oars, while Andrew and Si aft, went to the helm Joe soon cleared the ainst the side of the boat, threatening to knock a hole in her By considerable exertion she was kept head to wind, while in a fewhis eyes with his hands, declared that the gale was breaking Soon a light was seen to shi+ne forth between the clouds to the eastward, and it beca played theh they had to pull hard to prevent the boat fro as they could do that, they hoped at all events to save their lives for the present Though, after all, they should be coether hopeless, as they would have the excuse of co a fresh o down, and the sea to decrease so reatly lessened They were able to enjoy a better meal also than they had taken They had just finished, when Andreas on the look-out, exclaimed--”I see a white sail away to the east See, the canvas shi+nes like snow against the clouds”
Joe juer, which he pronounced to be a large shi+p bearing directly down for them ”Whether friend or foe, we cannot escape her; but if she is Dutch we are in no danger I do not kno a Frenchman would treat us We have most to dread from one of our own shi+ps; more's the shaer for keeping the oars going, all on board anxiously watched the approaching shi+p
”She is a uns She is English, too,” he added; ”she has hoisted her ensign at the peak”
”Remember we have but one simple tale to tell,” said Stephen to Andrew and Simon; ”we are bound for Holland We must neither show fear nor surprise if we are taken on board Merely ask the English Captain to supply us with a , in place of the one we have lost”
In a short tiate was up to the little vessel A boat was lowered, and a lieutenant and ht you into this condition, friends?” asked the for at Joe
”Oh,” replied Joe, ”a sudden squall carried away ouryour boat alongside,” said the lieutenant ”Get out your oars; ill soon tow you there”
Just then Stephen, who had been looking at the er started up and cried out, ”Stephen Battisob! I should not have known you, you look so thin and careworn What has brought you out here?”
”My brother and I and our friend are going to seek our fortune in Holland,” answered Stephen, ould rather not have had his name mentioned
As the lieutenant was in a hurry to obey his orders, he directed Joe to heave hiside the shi+p On the deck Stephen saw his old conise him, dressed as he was in countryht you out here, my men, in mid-channel?” asked the Captain