The man on duty then reported the water increasing,
and another was ordered to assist him. On an examination in the
morning, it was found that she was strained in the fore-channels,
and had started a but.
"She's an unlucky concern, skipper," said the mate as he brought the
axe to take the battons off the forehatch. "A fellow might as well
try to work a crab at low tide as to keep her to it in a blow like
that. She minds her helm like a porpoise in the breakers. Old Davy
must have put his mark upon her some time, but I never know'd a
lucky vessel to be got as she was. She makes a haul on the
underwriters every time she drifts across; for I never knew her to
sail clear since I shipped in the old tub. If she was mine, I'd find
a place for her at somebody's expense."
The sea became smooth, the water was found to have receded, the
wind, light, had hauled to W.S.W., and Cape Antoine was judged by
dead reckoning to bear S.S.W. about thirty miles distant. The
larboard fore-shrouds were found to have been scorched by the
lightning, which had completely melted the tar from the
after-shroud. All hands were now busily employed repairing the
wreck, which by two o'clock P.M. they had got so far completed as to
stand on their course in the gulf, at the rate of six knots an hour.
The skipper now consulted in his mind as to the expediency of making
for Havana or proceeding on his cruise.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25