The Heir to Grand-Pré

The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Heir to Grand Pré, by John Frederic Herbin
Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand nine hundred and seven, by John Frederic Herbin, at the Department of Agriculture.


The moveless helm needs no ruling hand, Because there is no wind awake to fill The sail that idles in the sun.
Well, Len, how is she making now?
Falling a little, sir.
No sign of wind yet?
Not a whiff.
How long before we will have to anchor?
About an hour more ebb, sir?
On this report, the bare head, which had been slightly raised while the interrogation was taking place, fell back into the hollow it had made for itself on an old sail which was both couch and pillow. A well-worn sporting coat lay between the rough cloth and the golden-brown hair and the summer-seasoned skin of a man's face, fresh and full of the health of youth. The figure of the young man settled into a more comfortable position, and a light cloud of smoke rose from his pipe into the moveless air. He lay on the roof of the cabin in the shadow of the mainsail, now hanging out of use from the mast. The sky was hazy and cloudless, and the whole sheet of water was white as burnished silver. Afar off the horizon was dark in places with the mirage of hills or marsh, showing a steamer with its smoke in a straight line upward from its stack. The man minded not the bright sky or the reflecting sea, and from thoughtful blue eyes glanced from time to time at the shore not beyond half a mile distant, frequently turning a pair of powerful binoculars upon the vari-colored bluffs and cliffs as the swift tide bore the boat along. The warm air of June made no impression upon the alertful if moody eyes.