“Indeed I must,” said Jack, “or I shall be turned back.”
The captains, surprised at this delay and the muttering of Jack, looked up, and one of them gently inquired if Mr Littlebrain had not dropped his handkerchief or something under the table! And then they again fixed their eyes upon the green cloth.
“If you dare, I’ll never see you again,” cried “South West and by West three-quarters West,”—“never come to your hammock,—but I’ll blow the ship on shore, every soul shall be lost, Admiral and all; recollect your promise!”
“Then I shall never pass,” replied Jack.
“Do you think that any other point in the compass shall pass you except me?—never! I am too jealous for that. Come now, dearest!” and the Wind again deliciously trembled upon the lips of our hero, who could no longer resist.
“South West and by West three-quarters West,” exclaimed Jack firmly.
“You have made a slight mistake, Mr Littlebrain,” said one of the captains. “Look again—I meant to say, think again.”
“South West and by West three-quarters West,” again repeated Jack.
“Dearest, how I love you!” whispered the soft Wind.
“Why, Mr Littlebrain,” said one of the captains—for Jack had actually laid the paper down on the table—“what’s in the wind now?”