But we shaved her by a yard or so, as Link pushed me
away from the wheel and took charge. A moment later she had dropped
behind us into the night, and we were surging in full-tilt for
Plymouth, heaving over at the Lord knows what angle.
"But we were off; we were clear; and, strange to say, the worst of it
was over. The wind was worsening, if anything, and we continued to
drive at a frightful angle. Now and again we slanted to a squall
that fairly dipped us till the sea poured half-way across her decks.
As I staggered forward--clutching at anything handy--to assure myself
that none of the boys had been flung off the fore-yard and overboard,
I heard a sea burst the starboard bulwarks, and in another moment,
while I yet wondered if the sound came from something parting aloft,
with a 'Wa-ay-oh!' Link had put over her helm, and the suddenly
altered slant flung me into the scuppers, where I dropped after
taking a knock against the standing rigging, the mark of which I
shall carry on my forehead till I die.
"By this time, sir, I was pretty well dazed. I forget if it was in a
couple of short tacks, or in three, that we fetched Picklecombe Point
on the western side.
Pages:
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148