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I took but one man out of the boat with me, and ordered the other boat to lie-to at a little distance off. They received me with great courtesy and politeness; and would retire back from the boat on my making the least motion with my hand. A man, whom I took to be a chief, seeing this, made them form a semicircle round the boat's bow, and beat such as attempted to break through this order.
Amyas turns out grumbling: but no lantern is to be seen; only a sudden explosion and a great fire on board some Spaniard, which is gradually got under, while they have to lie-to the whole night long, with nearly the whole fleet.
"It would aye be a satisfaction though," says Alan. "But bide a bit, bide a bit; I'm thinking and thanks to this bonny westland wind, I believe I've still a chance of it. It's this way, Davie. I'm no trysted with this man Scougal till the gloaming comes. But," says he, "if I can get a bit of a wind out of the west I'll be there long or that," he says, "and lie-to for ye behind the Isle of Fidra.
"Lie-to!" cried old Blunt, with a tremendous oath. "We'll have suthin' else to do. Look there!" The sky to the northward was streaked with a belt of livid green colour, above which rose a mighty black cloud, whose shape was ever changing. Blunt, recognising the meteoric heralds of danger, had begun to regret his obstinacy. He saw that a hurricane was approaching.
After proceeding a considerable distance along the rocky coast of their little isle, John Adams ordered the canoes to lie-to, while he made an attempt to catch a fresh cod for dinner. Of course, Matt Quintal and Dan McCoy ranged up alongside, and were speedily joined by some of the adventurous small boys. Adams took these latter into the canoe, but the former he ordered away.
As soon as all was ready, Jemmy Ducks, who, much against Vanslyperken's wish, was left in charge of the cutter, received his orders to lie-to where he was, and when the tide made flood, to stand close in-shore; and all was prepared for a start, when it occurred to Vanslyperken that to leave Snarleyyow, after the threat of Jemmy's wife, and the known animosity of Smallbones, would be his death-warrant.
All around was again enveloped in obscurity. The moon, like a modest benefactor who hides himself from those to whose wants he has ministered, concealed itself behind its screen of blackness. The pinnace was thrown into stays, and they resolved to lie-to till daybreak.
"That is well," replied the officer, smiling at Roger; "let them only lie-to until we reach them, and there is not much doubt that they will get something in the nature of an extremely disagreeable surprise." Now the fleet of Cavendish consisted of three ships only the Stag Royal, on board which were Roger and Harry, with Cavendish himself, she being the flag-ship of the little squadron.
Columbus gave orders to the captains of the other two ships that, in case of separation, they were to sail westward for 700 leagues-that being the distance at which he evidently expected to find land and there to lie-to from midnight until morning.
In this manner the wheel did tolerably well, though we had to let the ship lie-to in heavy weather. The chain sheets held on near a month, and then gave way. On examination, it was found that the parcelling had gone under the ship's counter, and that the copper had nearly destroyed the iron.
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