Nat went to the wheel himself.
“Up jib an’ fores’l,” he sung out, “and sway ’em flat! Mains’l and tops’ls after that! Raymond, overhaul the balloon, stays’l, and trys’l! Mebbe we’ll drive her a little afore we’re through.”
Burns found the Night Hawk in a patch of sea by herself, more or less deserted by the other schooners 261 because of the Jonah report that had gone abroad concerning her. Her dories were just coming in from the day’s work partially loaded with fish.
“Hello!” bawled Nat. “Is Billy Stetson aboard?” Billy was the skipper.
“Yas; d’ye want to see him?”
“Yes, send him along over. It’s mighty important, but I ain’t goin’ aboard no Jonah boat. Tell him he’ll be glad he came.”
Presently Stetson came and the two retired into the cabin of the Nettie B.