I blamed myself that I hadn't thought of it
earlier, and so, steppin' forward, I called out to them to ease up--
we wouldn't struggle on for Cattewater, but drop hook in Jennycliff
Bay, somewhere inside of the Merchant Shipping anchorage. As things
were, this would save a good hour--more likely two hours. 'And,'
said I, 'you can take the boat, all three, and leave her at Barbican
steps. Tell the harbour-master where she belongs, and where I'm
laying. He'll see she don't take no harm, and you needn't fear but
I'll get put ashore to her somehow. There's always somebody passin'
hereabouts.'
"'But look 'ee here, father,' said the boys--good boys they were,
too--'What's to happen if it comes on to blow from south or
sou'-west, same as it blew at the beginning of the week?'
"''Tisn't goin' to do any such thing,' said I, for I'd been studyin'
the weather. 'And, even if it should happen, I've signals aboard.
'Tisn't the first time, sonnies, I've sat out a week-end on board a
boat, alone wi' the Redeemer.'
"That settled it, sir. It relieved 'em a bit, too, when they spied
another lugger already lyin' inside the anchorage, and made her out
for a Porthleven boat, the_ Maid in Two Minds_, that had been after
the herrings with the rest of us up to a fortni't ago, or maybe three
weeks: since when we hadn't seen her.
Pages:
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47