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Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir, 1863-1944

"News from the Duchy"

Then we put about on a long tack that carried
us well outside the breakwater and came in for Cawsand Bay and
safety. On this last fetch Link kicked me up and gave me the wheel
again, while he went forward to hunt up the spare anchor.
"We brought up, well in shelter, at something before two in the
morning, not a hand lost. Before anyone was allowed to turn in, Link
had every sail stowed and covered--'for the honour of the blasted
ship,' as he put it.
"The skipper and his precious lot came aboard next day not long
before noon, and after a wholesome scare. It seems they were late,
and all pretty so-so by the time they reached the Barbican Steps;
and, let be that there was no boat for them, the watermen one and all
declined to take them off in any such weather. Nothing for it but to
doss the night ashore, which they did. But I wouldn't give much for
their feelings next morning when they put off and, lo! there was no
_Swallow_ in the Merchant Shipping Anchorage. In Cawsand Bay, you
understand, we were well hidden by the land, and it cost them at
least a couple of hours to guess our whereabouts.
"Long as the time was, it wasn't enough to wear out the effects of
the--well, the Cinematograph.


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