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We sailed with a regular westerly roarer astern of us, to which the `old man' I mean the capt'n, sir, showed every rag that would draw, up to to'gallant stunsails, and the skipper kept well to the south'ard, hoping to make all the easting that he wanted out of that westerly wind.
Stunsails had been set on her, and she was running very fast through the water. "We seem to have more canvas set than that vessel behind us," he said. "Yes, we have more, but those luggers sail like witches. They are splendid boats, but they want very big crews to work them. That is the reason why you scarcely ever see them, with us, except as fishing craft, or something of that sort.
I entertained a very wholesome dread of the "Horn" the notorious "Cape of Storms." Bob, on the other hand, was all for the western route. "I'm willin' to allow," observed he, "that a trip round the Horn ain't like a day's cruise in the Solent all pleasuring; but I've knowed ships to come round under r'yal stunsails, and that more than once.
To the upper end of this batten was lashed an old horn lantern with a lighted candle in it, after which the whole apparatus was suffered to go adrift. "Now, in stunsails, and brace sharp up on the port tack," ordered Johnson. This was soon done; and the brig now feeling the full strength of what little wind there was, seemed to slip along through the water quite as fast as before.
The wind were fresh from west-nor'west, and we passed the Skerries with all three royals set and lower topmast and to'gallan' stunsails on the port side. As soon as ever we passed the rocks we kep' off for Lynas, and as soon as the stunsails got by the lee they was hauled in.
"T'gallant sails! stunsails! alow and aloft, and on both sides!"
"T'gallant sails! stunsails! alow and aloft, and on both sides!"
The cold, fresh breeze soon cleared Rogers's head of its aches and throbs, and he took stock of the ship and her people. She seemed to be about twelve hundred tons' register, with no skysails, stunsails, or other kites to make work for her crew, an easy ship, as far as wind and weather were concerned.
The brig had in the interim run down to within about four miles of the whaler, and was still flying along, dead before the wind, with everything set, up to topgallant stunsails on both sides; and no sign had so far revealed itself on board her by which we could judge of the intention of her crew.
"And he knows us, too," he added with a chuckle; "recognised us at daybreak, and at once turned-to and set his stunsails. But let him, ladies and gentlemen; we have the heels of him in this weather, and we'll be abreast of him in time to exchange numbers before sunset to- night."
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