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The two mounted the brig's side and, touching deck, found the captain, known to Ian, who had sailed before upon the Seawing, and known since yesterday to Glenfernie. The captain welcomed them, his only passengers, using not their own names, but others that had been chosen. In the cabin, under the swinging lantern, there followed a few words as to weather, ports, and sailing.
Alexander and Ian, coming down to the harbor edge at a specified place, found there the waiting boat with two rowers. It hung before them on the just-lit water. "Now, Old Steadfast, farewell!" said Ian. "I am going a little farther. Step in, man!" The boat drove across, under the moon, to the Seawing.
Leave him now, except as you find him within." "Her sister?" "I will tell Gilian. That is a wide and wise spirit. She will understand." "Then it is come and gone " "Disappear as you appeared! None here wants your peril, and the griefs and evils were you taken." "I expected to go back. The brig Seawing brought me. It sails in a week's time." "You must be upon it, then." "Yes, I suppose so."
The tide served, the Seawing would be forth in an hour. The captain, work calling, left them in the small lighted place. "The boat is waiting. Now, Old Steadfast Señor Nobody " "Old Saracen, we used to say that we'd go one day to India " "Yes " "Well, let us go!" "Us " "Why not?" They stood with the table between them. Alexander's hands moved toward Ian's.
They saw it in the moonlight, half-way back to the quay. On the Seawing, sailors were lifting anchor. They stood and watched. The moon was paling; there came the scent of morning; far upon the shore a cock crew. The Seawing's crew were making sail. Out and up went her pinions, filled with a steady and favoring wind.
The latter, it seemed, was not well kept his room that day. The laird of Glenfernie went about, indeed, but never once went near the waterside.... And yet, at eve, the master of the Seawing, riding in the harbor, took the resolution to sail by cockcrow. The sun went down with red and gold, in a winter splendor. Dark night followed, but, late, there rose a moon.
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