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"Why, Mas' Don," said Jem, laughing, "it's like fishing; and after biting ever so long, the float's gone right under water. Now's your time. Strike!" "And we've no line," said Don, who was beginning to get rid of his nervous sensation. "No, we haven't a line," said Jem. "Keep your eye on the place where he went down; we mustn't lose that hitcher. Say, it won't do to try and swim ashore.
So I faced round quickly, and took up a position in the prow, where I leant with careless grace upon the hitcher, in an attitude suggestive of agility and strength. I arranged my hair with a curl over the forehead, and threw an air of tender wistfulness into my expression, mingled with a touch of cynicism, which I am told suits me.
There were doubtless girls to balance them, but the girls were busy at home, while the boys swarmed upon the pier, where they led a charmed life; for though one of them was crowded, or scuffled, or pushed off every day into deep water, when quarrelling, playing, or getting into someone's way when the fish were landed, they seemed as if formed of cork or bladder and wind instead of flesh and blood, for they always came up again, to be pulled out by the rope thrown, or hooked out by a hitcher, if they did not swim round to the rough steps or to the shore.
"Cheer-ri-ly, mates," said a voice suddenly, as a slight splashing was heard. "We're not a-going to be drowned dead this here time, for I've just touched bottom with the hitcher." "Now, my lads," said the captain gravely, "our lives have been spared, thank Heaven! and we are to see the light of another day."
Directly after, working with all their might, the men began to make the water fly out in showers. Meanwhile the oars were collected and thrust down into the boat beneath the thwarts, along with the hitcher, and the rest of the little crew held on by the gunwale outside.
Mark drew a deep breath, and uttered a faint groan, as the sailor stood up in the boat, hitcher in hand, looking wildly about. A volley of cries now came from the poop, just over where the prisoners were watching.
Great pieces of ballast iron, as it took two on 'em to heave up over the bulwarks. I just had time to give the boat a shove with the hitcher when down it come. Gone through the bottom like paper, if I hadn't. But beg pardon, sir, arn't we going to have a storm?" "Yes," said Mr Brooke quietly; "I am running for the river, if I can make it. If not, for that creek we were in last night.
This is not the first cutter, but one of the schooner's boats. Your boathook is not here." "Do you hear, all on you? I want my hitcher. Some on you's been and hidden it for a lark. Give it here." "Are you deaf, Dance?" cried Mark, angrily. "How dare you, sir! Sit down." "I know," continued the man, who was tumbling about forward.
"Never mind the hats, man," shouted the lieutenant. "The oars the oars." This was to one of the sailors who had reached a straw hat and clapped it upon his head as he swam, but the same man recovered one of the oars and brought it alongside. "Any one seen my hitcher?" shouted the coxswain from where he hung on, supporting the black. "No."
The third prod did it: and he turned over on the other side, and said he would be down in a minute, and that he would have his lace-up boots. We soon let him know where he was, however, by the aid of the hitcher, and he sat up suddenly, sending Montmorency, who had been sleeping the sleep of the just right on the middle of his chest, sprawling across the boat.
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