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The trysail was soon on deck, and then the Seabird was brought up into the wind, the weather foresheet hauled aft, the mizzen sheeted almost fore and aft, and the Seabird lay, head to wind, rising and falling with a gentle motion, in strong contrast to her impetuous rushes when under sail. "She would ride out anything like that," her owner said.
Then, as the boat ranged up alongside, with her foresheet hauled to windward, the great bodies of the monsters could be seen rushing and plunging and leaping hither and thither, whereupon the whole party of sportsmen opened a vigorous and well-directed fire of arrows and javelins upon them, Harry chiming in with his deadly rifle whenever a good chance for a shot offered itself.
Appleboy shaved himself, dressed, and went on deck. 'Yes, said the lieutenant, rubbing his eyes again and again, and then looking through the glass, 'it is her, sure enough. Let draw the foresheet hands make sail. What vessel's the other? 'Don't know, sir she's a cutter. 'A cutter? yes; maybe a yacht, or maybe the new cutter ordered on the station. Make all sail, Mr.
"D'ye know much of that strapping lass?" said Mr Vanslyperken's new acquaintance. "Not I," replied Vanslyperken, not much pleased at the observation. "Well, look out for squalls, she'll be as good as her word. We'll draw the foresheet, and stand in now, if you please." It was about dusk, for the days were now short, and the cutter was eight miles off the land.
We dropped the boat astern, let draw the foresheet, and made sail after the frigate, which was now more than a mile from us, and leaving us very fast.
We had a pleasant run for two days, with a light wind, and hoped the next morning to land at Kailua, the capital of the island of Owhyhee; but at sunset a sudden squall struck the little vessel, and had not Ben Yool been at the helm, and instantly luffed up, while Jerry and I let fly the foresheet, we should in all probability have been over, and become food for the sharks.
The old man took the helm, and the boy, who had not spoken, laid in his oar, and facing forward, put his hand on the foresheet to be ready to go about when the word was given. The boat was somewhat old and battered, like its master, the rigging especially seemed in a bad condition. The old man saw the boys examining her, and divined their thoughts.
"Haul down the tack, Jack, and get a pull of the foresheet," he sang out. There was a fresh breeze from the south-east blowing almost up the harbour, but by keeping over on the Portsmouth side, aided by the tide, we stood clear out of it. The wherry soon began to pitch into the seas, which came rolling in round Southsea Castle in a way which made the doctor look very blue.
PORT! PORT!" roared David, in a voice like the roar of a wounded lion; and, in his anxiety, he bounded to the helm himself; but Lucy obeyed orders at half a word, and David, seeing this, sprang forward to help Jack flatten in the foresheet.
'I only judge by cause and effect, sir; and I know that I shall have to go on shore and wait for you to-night. 'That's not unlikely; but let draw the foresheet; we must now get behind the headland. The youngster was right: that evening, a little before dark, he attended his commander on shore, the Enterprise lying-to with a lantern at her peak.
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