“Sun’s getting higher and makes it fainter. But the wind is falling, and we’ll clap on a little more sail.”
As the morning went on sail after sail was added, the men springing aloft and shaking out the squaresails, while long triangular pieces of canvas were run up the stays till the yacht was crowded, and she glided along with a delightfully easy motion.
But it was all in vain; the wind sank and sank, till at mid-day the sails hung motionless in the glowing sunshine, while, save for a slow soft heaving, the glassy transparent sea was absolutely without motion.
“Oh, this is vexatious!” cried Jack impatiently.
“Yes, you’ll have to whistle for the wind, Jack,” said the doctor, stretching himself under the awning and lighting his cigar.
“Whistle for nonsense!” said the lad irritably. “So tiresome, just too as we have come in sight of the place.”
“Practice for your patience, my boy,” said Sir John merrily. “Oughtn’t he to come under the awning out of the scorching sun?” he continued to the doctor, as Jack went forward to where Captain Bradleigh was giving orders about lowering some of the studding-sails.
“Won’t hurt him so long as he does not exert himself,” replied the doctor. “The sun, sir, is the real fount of life. Nature incites all animals to bask in it, even the fish. There’s a shoal swimming yonder. We’ll have a try for some presently. Do him good.”
“Then why don’t you go and lie in it?” said Sir John, smiling.
“Because I don’t want doing good. Too idle. I’m drinking all this in. I never felt so well in my life.”