Part 2 (1/2)
CHAPTER TWO.
BOTHER THE FOG.
A minute before those words were shouted from the main-top, the low-toned conversation carried on by the two young officers, with an occasional creak or rattle from a swinging sail was all that broke the silence of the drowsy vessel; now from everywhere came the buzz of voices and the hurrying trample of feet.
”It's just as if some one had thrust a stick into a wasp's nest,”
whispered Frank Murray to his companion, as they saw that the captain and officers had hurried up on deck to follow the two lads' example of bringing their spy-gla.s.ses to bear upon a faintly seen sail upon the horizon, where it was plainly marked for a few minutes--long enough to be made out as a low schooner with raking masts, carrying a heavy spread of canvas, which gradually grew fainter and fainter before it died away in the silvery haze. The time was short, but quite long enough for orders to be sharply given, men to spring up aloft, and the sloop's course to be altered, when shuddering sails began to fill out, making the _Seafowl_ careen over lightly, and a slight foam formed on either side of the cut-water.
”That's woke us up, Richard, my son,” said Murray.
”Yes, and it means a chance at last.”
”If.”
”Only this; we just managed to sight that schooner before she died away again in the haze.”
”Well, that gave us long enough to notice her and send the _Seafowl_ gliding along upon her course. Isn't that enough?”
”Not quite, old fellow.”
”Bah! What a fellow you are, Frank! You're never satisfied,” cried Roberts. ”What have you got in your head now?”
”Only this; we had long enough before the haze closed in to sight the schooner well.”
”Of course. We agreed to that.”
”Well, suppose it gave them time enough to see us?”
”Doubtful. A vessel like that is not likely to have a man aloft on the lookout.”
”There I don't agree with you, d.i.c.k. It strikes me that they must keep a very sharp lookout on board these schooners, or else we must have overhauled one of them before now.”
”Humph!” said Roberts shortly. ”Well, we shall see. According to my ideas it won't be very long before we shall be sending a shot across that schooner's bows, and then a boat aboard. Hurrah! Our bad luck is broken at last.”
”Doesn't look like it,” said Murray, who had dropped all light flippancy and banter, to speak now as the eager young officer deeply interested in everything connected with his profession.
”Oh, get out!” cried Roberts. ”What do you mean by your croaking? Look at the way in which our duck has spread her wings and is following in the schooner's wake. It's glorious, and the very air seems in our favour, for it isn't half so hot.”
”I mean,” said Murray quietly, ”that the mist is growing more dense.”
”So much in our favour.”
”Yes,” said Murray, ”if the schooner's skipper did not sight us first.”
”Oh, bother! I don't believe he would.”
”What's that?” said a gruff voice.
”Only this, sir,” said Roberts to the first lieutenant, who had drawn near un.o.bserved; ”only Murray croaking, sir.”