As soon as the captain came on deck again, Bramble said, “We’ll go about, if you please.”
“What! about already? why, we’re good three leagues from the shore.”
“Yes, sir, but the tide has made, and we must now make a long stretch-out towards the French coast. We won’t tack again till about dark.”
“Not tack till dark, pilot? surely we will do better keeping on the English coast.”
“No, no, sir; if we were not so well manned and so well armed I should do it; but, as we are a match for any privateer, why, we may as well make a long leg—we shall be up Channel sooner.”
“Well, I don’t know what to say; I’ve a heavy responsibility with such a valuable cargo.”
“Well, tack if you please, sir,” said Bramble, shortly.
“Oh, certainly. Hands, about ship.”
The vessel’s head was put off-shore, and with a smart breeze we walked away fast from the land. At twelve o’clock the captain proposed standing in-shore again, but Bramble refused. At three o’clock he became very uneasy, and expostulated with Bramble, who replied, “Well, sir, I’m doing all for the best, but if you are afraid—”
“Afraid?” cried the captain; “afraid of what, I should like to know? No, I’m not afraid, but it appears to me that we ought to make the land again before night.”