Part 46 (1/2)
The evening of the third day had coained any idea as to the purpose of this trip He saw that it would be no use asking questions, and waited until he should be told what he was to do In thethe sail immensely, for the craft seemed instinct with life, and Colin learned from the other fishermen aboard that she was one of the fastest vessels out of Gloucester Colin had settled hiht and just dropped off to sleep when there came a hail from the masthead
”Fish!+ Lyin' nor'-nor'-east”
Every man stirred in his bunk, but none made a move Colin, who had wakened instantly without, followed the example of the others round hiain, when the voice of the captain came from the wheel:
”Pass the word to oil up”
There was no need to say ”Pass the word,” for everyinto sea-boots, oilskins, and sou'westers Most of the -up' from the coffee-kettle Evidently the mackerel were not far away, for in less than five ain:
”All on deck!”
Up the ladder went the fisherht was as black as though the shi+p were plunging into a cave Even the phosphorescence or 'fire' at the shi+p's boas not especially brilliant, and Colin tus in as many yards on deck, while only the fact that he had sea-boots on saved hi his shi+ns on the fore-hatch
”Drop over the dory, haul up the boat!”
The co out sharply Colin had been aboard a man-of-war, but there was no such discipline as this The words were scarcely spoken, when four of the ht of the ht it to the port fore-rigging
”Tops'l halyards Lively now!”
With a rattle and whir the two great sails went soaring up in the darkness, and the _shi+ner_ leaped forward, her lee rail alreat boat,” said Colin to one of the ht she could have stood the tops'ls”
The fishererald is the skipper o' this craft,” he said, ”an' he's got the reputation o' carryin' all canvas in a full gale See the lights around us?”
”I saw one or two,” Colin answered ”Other seiners?”
”O' course, an' do you think Jerry's goin' to lose a chance o' the school because o' canvas? Wait a bit an' you'll see!”
Not a minute had passed by before another order came
”Give her the stays'l Run up the balloon, too!”
Colin gasped, but he lent a hand As the _shi+ner_ felt the added sail she poked her nose in and took the water green But the narrow build forward threw off the load, and she rose like a duck The seiner was carrying a fearful press of sail, but she stood up stiffly under it, all the red and green lights of the other seiners falling astern; it was evident that the skipper , occasional flashes of light, being the phosphorescence churned up by the tails of a pod of mackerel, could be seen from the deck
”Into the boat!” cried the skipper
For just a second Colin hesitated, but he saw Mr Roote go into the seine-boat and he followed immediately The seine-master, who had been aloft, came doith a rush Colin could hear the rustle of the oilskins as he partly touched the stays, but he landed on the deck with a 'thuh he had leaped down the last ten feet The seine-boat was dropping astern as fast as one of the creho remained on deck, could pay out the painter, but the seine-ave no heed to the rapid departure of the boat He took half a dozen quick steps to the stern and leaped over the quarter, judging the distance so accurately that he landed fair on the foremost thwart of the seine-boat as she dropped astern, a couple of thehim as he jumped
”Easy on the painter!” he cried Then, next moment:
”Stand by the dory,” as the s by and was almost thrown on top of the seine-boat by a cross-sea
There came a fire of orders from the captain, which Colin could hardly follow, and he wondered how the helmsman and one man on deck could keep up with them
”Ease off theher away a bit Steady there! Slack the foretops'l and stays'l halyards
Lively now! Jibe her over, Dave! Doith the balloon, there! Quick as the Lord'll let you! Over she comes! Stand by in the boat and dory! Keep her down, Dave! Down, ood school”