The
tired muscles were strained in a final effort, and the moist veins
bulged about their temples.
"Boat ahoy!" came from the schooner. "Look alive or we'll leave you."
"Leave----" the rest of Duff's exclamation was lost as he threw his
whole effort into a last spurt.
The shadow of the lofty sails was towering over the yawl when the
Wanderer began to glide ahead. Another gun from the cruiser, and the
ball drove between boat and schooner, missing the first by but a few
yards.
"Boat there! Make ready for a rope!"
A sailor sprang upon the taffrail and the next instant a slim line
uncoiled itself over the water. Duff, springing up, caught the end on
his oar blade, and by a dexterous twist brought it within reach.
As he rose from making it fast, the yawl was spinning through the water
in the schooner's wake, as the latter, heeling to the wind, responded
like a thing of life to the wishes of those on board.
Hand over hand the mate drew the heavily laden boat under the
Wanderer's lee, made fast the davits as they were lowered, and a moment
or two later the three tired boatmen found themselves safely on deck.
When the ample supply of meat and vegetables was hoisted over the
bulwarks, the few who had time to look were loud in their expressions
of approval. Captain Gary hardly vouchsafed them more than a glance.
To Duff, however, he briefly said:
"We had warning in the night that the Adams" (a sailing vessel in the
old United States navy) "was making up the coast, and we had to pull
out.
Pages:
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139