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Towards the close of the day, too, Roger Wearne had made shift to crawl on deck and bear a hand. Captain Pomery lay in the huddle of the forecastle, no man tending him: and old Worthyvale awaited burial, stretched in the hold upon the ballast.

The Gauntlet being in ballast, and the tide high, Captain Pomery found plenty of Water in the winding channel, every curve of which he knew to a hair, and steered for at its due moment, winking cheerfully at Billy and me, who stood ready to correct his pilotage.

Captain Pomery here was in two minds about laying-to and waiting for a breeze; but a light slant of wind encouraged him to carry the Gauntlet through. It bore us between the invisible strait, and for a score of sea-miles beyond; then, as casually as it had helped, it deserted us. Day broke and discovered us with the Moorish coast low on our starboard horizon. To Mr. Fett and Mr.

"Speakin' as a seafarin' man and the husband o' three at one time and another," said he, "they always do so." "My Artemisia," said Mr. Badcock, "was no exception; though a powerful woman and well able to look after herself." "'Tis their privilege," agreed Captain Pomery. "You must allow 'em a few."

So much of the Gauntlet's hugger-mugger I managed to discern before Captain Pomery left the helm and hurried forward to give us welcome on board. "Mornin', Squire Prosper! Mornin', Billy! You know me, sir Cap'n Jo Pomery which is short for Job, and 'tis the luckiest chance, sir, you hailed me, for you'm nearabouts the first man I wanted to see.

The Gauntlet lies at her old anchorage or so Captain Pomery tells me and 'tis but a step down the creek to where my boat is waiting." We walked down beside the stream, my uncle, as we went, asking a score of questions about our adventures and about my father and his plans questions which I was in no state of mind to answer coherently.

Fett. "Mr. Badcock's question was a foolish one. Speaking, however, as a mere man of business, and without thought of rounding off the story artistically, I am curious to know how they settled the ransom?" Captain Pomery had taken in all canvas, to be as little conspicuous as possible; and all that day we lay becalmed under bare poles.

Night fell, and the xebec had made no further motion to attack: but yet, as the calm held, Captain Pomery continued gloomy; nor did his gloom lift at all when the enemy, as soon as it was thoroughly dark, began to burn flares and torches. "That will be a signal to the shore," said he. "Though, please God, they are too far for it to reach." The illumination served us in one way.

"Man," said Captain Pomery, looking about him, "we must be a poor set of liars if we can't pitch a yarn on this evidence!" My father allowed himself to be persuaded, the more easily as the argument jumped with his impatience.

Still no sign of house or habitation greeted us as we worked by short tacks towards a deep bay which my father, after a prolonged consultation of the chart, decided to be that of Sagona. A sharp promontory ran out upon its northern side, and within the shelter of this Captain Pomery looked to find good anchorage.