Well for those aboard the Dartaway that she was a stanch craft, well that she had been built with a view to hard service. For now her stoutness was called upon, and now was her stability likely to be tested to the utmost.
Once the first fury of the blast was over the boys did not seem to mind it so much. It did not appear to blow so hard when they were scudding along with the wind. The sea was soon a rolling mass of billows, but the Dartaway with her watertight compartments, rode over the waves like a duck. True, she was tossed here and there, but her covered bow and stern did not allow any water to enter, while the spray, except now and then in a violent gust, was prevented from coming aboard by the stout awning.
The red and green side lights had been set aglow some time before, though it is doubtful if they could be seen ten feet away, because of the tossing waves.
“Let’s start the search-light,” said Ned. “It will show us where we are going and prevent us being run down.”
Sam said it would be a good plan, and the beacon was soon ignited, sending out its glaring pencil of light over the dark and angry waters.
“She’ll stand to come in a bit,” called Sam to Jerry. “Hold as close to the wind as you can, and we’ll try and scud along the coast. We may fetch up somewhere on a point if we’re not too far out.”
Jerry shifted the wheel, and the Dartaway, answering well to her new power, changed her course. Suddenly it began to rain, a downpour so violent that it served in a measure to flatten down the crests of the waves.
Though the rain served this good turn, it was unwelcome on another account. Tight as the awning was, much water now came in through the flaps that would blow open a bit, in spite of Sam’s efforts. In a little while there was scarcely a dry spot aboard the boat, and the occupants were wet through.
But, in spite of their terror (and the boys were not ashamed to admit they were frightened); in spite of their plight which was about as bad as could be, there was a certain feeling of pride in their boat. It was a gallant craft, and the lads, more than ever, felt the Dartaway was a friend indeed.
On and on the wind drove her. It was impossible to tell where they were. The searchlight showed a waste of heaving waters and a downpour of rain, that fell on the top of the canopy as though it would beat it down about the heads of the occupants of the craft. The wind blew more steadily now.