"I'm with you, Jim," declared the cowboy. "I'd rayther be lost in a blizzard a whole lot with a good hoss under me, than be upheaved an' junked about on this here onrestful sea."
Presently the wind died away completely, and the boat lay rolling helplessly on the swell, her sails flapping.
The afternoon passed slowly. Bill, in the bottom of the boat, lay face downwards, apparently dozing. Jim, next him, was listening with open eyes to one of Broncho's cattle-yarns. Tari, in the bows, slept placidly; and in the stern sat Jack and Loyola, conversing in low tones.
None of the boat's crew noticed the rapidly approaching change of weather. Loyola had her back turned to the heavy squall rising so rapidly, and neither Broncho nor Jim perceived it until the blind man cried suddenly,
"I smell wind!"
One glance was enough. Up sprang Loyola, and, seizing the steering-oar, with one long stroke she swept the boat's head round.
Then with a screech the wind fell upon them. The boat gave a violent lurch and lay down to it, the water pouring in over the gunwale. Broncho and Jim, taken completely by surprise, were tumbled to leeward on top of the bosun's mate, who was half drowned before they could extricate themselves, whilst Jack was awkwardly groping about in a vain effort to get in the awning.
The woman steered superbly, and her clear voice rang like a bell above the squall as she called to Bill to get hold of the sheet before the sail flogged itself to rags.
The rain fell in solid sheets, and the sea hissed as it beat upon it. The boat, rushing madly before the wind, rocked wildly, and dipped her rail under at each roll; whilst Jack, in a foot of water, baled furiously to keep pace with the rain; the other four struggled desperately with the maddened sail. Loyola, hanging on to the long oar with her strong young arms, stood swaying gracefully to the motion of the boat, as, calm and watchful, she held it steady.
The sunshine fled below the horizon to the south-east, chased by a mass of heavy, threadbare clouds, which came pelting across the sky.