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"I think, however, it must have been nearly seven o'clock, as well, sir, as I can remember." Then I chimed in. "Ah!" I exclaimed quickly, "that was just the very time that Masters and I heard the shooting in the distance to win'ard, and it was six bells in the second dog watch!"
"I ain't dreaming," hailed back old Masters, not quite catching what he said. "I sees summit as plain as possible out to win'ard. Aye, it be a-driftin' down athawt our hawser, too, cap'en. Why, hullo! I'm blessed. Boat ahoy!" "A boat!" exclaimed Captain Applegarth, his jesting manner changing instantly to one of earnest attention. "Where away?"
"We was well up, with the canvas half off her, sailin' easy, on the lookout for a berth, when a punt put out from a stage up alongshore, an' come down with the water curlin' from her bows. "'What's the meanin' o' that, Docks? sings the skipper, pointin' t' the punt. 'They're goin' out o' the course t' keep t' win'ard. "'Skipper Jim, says I, 'they knows us. "'Sink us, says he, 'they does!
"By keepin' on'ard," said Ben, "we'll be more like to come in sight o' somethin', if there be anythin' abroad. Besides, if we lay here like a log, we'll still be in danger o' them ruffians driftin' down on us. Ye know they be a win'ard, an' ha' got theer sail set, that is, if they bean't gone back to the sparmacety, which I dar say they've done.
'Twas the skipper that sailed the ship, too, drove her like he'd always done: all the time eatin' an' sleepin' in the forecastle, where poor Tommy Mib lay sick o' the smallpox. But we o' the crew kep' our distance when the ol' man was on deck; an' they was no rush for'ard t' tend the jib an' stays'l when it was 'Hard a-lee! in a beat t' win'ard no rush at all.
He was sprightly, headstrong, erratic, emotional; she was equally keen-witted, but a conservative in her cast of mind. That she was capable of a great and passionate love there is no doubt, and he might have been. Mary Lamb would have been his anchor to win'ard, but as it was he drifted straight on to the rocks.
"There she is, still to win'ard, pretty nearly flush with the water." "Then she really is there all right, my lad. Keep your eye on her."
I suppose you think you'll have a better chance of working to win'ard of him then?" "That's it, Admiral," said my father, laughing. "There's no good in a fellow trying to bamboozle you, sir." "No, by George!" chuckled the old fellow, mightily pleased at this tribute to his "cuteness", "you'd have to get up precious early in the morning to take me in as you know from old experience of me, Vernon!
Many a time I've took my trick at the wheel when the most I hoped for was three minutes t' say my prayers. "'Skipper, sir, we used t' say, when 'twas lookin' black an' nasty t' win'ard an' we was wantin' t' run for the handiest harbour, ''tis like you'll be holdin' on for Rocky Cove. Sure, you've no call t' run for harbour from this here blow! "'Stand by that mainsheet there! he'd yell.
Women is very ticklish craft to handle, you must bear in mind; as tender in a squall as a racin' cutter with all her flyin'-kites aloft; and you'll have to keep a sharp look-out to win'ard, and have the halliards and sheets all ready for lettin' run at a moment's notice, or you'll maybe get something ser'ous carried away, or have a reg'lar downright wrack altogether afore you knows where you are."
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