“If he goes on asking questions at this rate,” replied Chippie, “his cocoanut’ll bust before long.”
“Not much,” retorted Tom; “he’ll make a good master-at-arms one of these days. He’s good stuff!”
CHAPTER XV
Seasickness
The following morning at quarters, as an easterly breeze had sprung up during the night, it was announced that the ship would sail immediately after “mast”, which would be at a quarter of ten. This meant another opportunity for the “B. M.’s” to see how well they could handle their sections in getting under way; and, as soon as “mast” was over, Jack called Ellsworth and the two other boatswain’s mates together to remind them of the details of their jobs. Then he went over and talked with Bertie Young, the master-at-arms.
“Look, Bertie,” said he, “don’t let any lubbers loiter down below after the call for getting under way has been sounded.”
“Sure, Jack,” said Bertie, “I’ll be on the job.”
Meantime the sky had become overcast, and the wind had freshened, and it still blew from the northeast as it had done the day before. While going over the masthead, the boys noticed quite heavy clouds near the horizon. There was also more moisture in the air, and everything looked as if a northeaster were making up its mind to visit the coast. The wind, however, was not strong enough to warrant taking in any reefs, and the Bright Wing sailed briskly away from her anchorage with a motion that gradually increased as they cleared the harbor. The lee scuppers were all under water by this time and no mistake, and the vessel flew like a gull when the wind catches its outspread wings and carries it along without resistance. The tide was running out, also, and they slipped off so quickly that an hour later, when the boys were looking back at the shore, the familiar spires and headlands had almost disappeared in the distance.
The manœuvre of getting under way had been carried out as smoothly as the last time, and now the master-at-arms was busy warning the smaller and greener boys off the lee rail.
“The weather’s too cold for a bath this morning, you lubbers; and, besides, the Captain doesn’t want to stop her headway to pick you up,” cried Bertie. “Gee, what a spanking breeze!”
Now and then a boy might be noticed lingering at the foot of the foremast stays to leeward, looking intently at the water, and then coming back with a wistful look upon his face. As time went on, these little visits seemed to become more frequent; and then Mr. Miller and Mr. Wentworth were observed by the Chairman tucking boys away in different corners of the deck wrapped up in their blankets; and these blanketed bundles of boys deposited in the more sheltered nooks began to increase until there were half a dozen or more scattered about in different places.