The swim was nothing--rather jolly in fact. Adrian climbed up first and let down the short white steps for her.
"What's the tide doing?" asked Crow, and she stood a moment on the counter looking round.
"On the turn, I think; however, considering we don't know which way she's gone----"
"No; but won't she be forced to go the way the tide goes?" suggested Crow from the companion-way.
"I suppose so. What raving insanity it all is! I can't see a glimpse of her anywhere. You see, we don't know how long a start she had."
"Keziah said----"
"Oh, I know--but Keziah's an idiot. Did you ever know her tell you a thing accurately?"
It will be seen that Adrian was cross. He was, very. Expecting a wet night, he had housed the mainsail and the mizzen in their covers, and now all was to undo, and do over again. It really was maddening. Also he had made up his mind to tell Pamela his opinion when they found her. Having restrained his tongue on the Champles Creek event, he believed it was now time to let go.
When the two were ready, they looked very business-like and fit sailor-men. Crow in flannels and oilskins, with sou'-wester tied down, and steady grey eyes looking from beneath the peak of it, was a most alluring personality. Addie looked big and square, and very much in earnest.
The first question to answer was, how much sail should be allowed. They had gone out that day with one reef down; the weather demanded that. Adrian now decreed two reefs down, foresail and storm jib, no mizzen. The jib had to be changed, and reefs taken down; they both worked, but it took a little time, as everyone knows who has done these nail-breaking jobs in the circumstances that usually attend them--namely, drizzly rain, salt spray, and wind in aggravating gusts.