Kit turned to see Blob, his shoulders rounded, and arms taut, heaving at the main-mast.
"She wun't budge!" he cried, his face crimson with honest effort.
"Seems she's grow'd in loike."
"Fool!" he cried. "Lend a hand with the boom here! Shove, boy, shove! —Now on to the main-brace! No, fool, no!—Here—on to this! Now all together—heave! heave! heave!"
The great sail rose, groaning terribly.
Heaven send the smugglers hadn't heard!
But they had.
II
So much a far scream told them.
"We're seen!" panted Kit. "Now whistle for the wind, my boy, and hand me that musket."
The water was slopping all about the lugger. Empty as a barrel she began to rock to the rocking of the tide. A puff would launch her.