“So I did; so I did, my lad,” said the skipper good-humouredly. “You see, I am like other men—think I am very wise, but I do stupid things sometimes. Well, I’ll be safe this time, and say I don’t know what she is, and I don’t much care. But I am pretty sure that she aren’t after us, and I dare say, if the truth’s known, she don’t think we are after her. There, squint out yonder to windward. That don’t look like fine weather, does it?”
“No; worse than ever!” cried Rodd.
“That’s so, my lad, and you may take this for certain; we shan’t sail to-day, and you won’t see another vessel put out to sea. Take my word for it.”
“That I will, Captain Chubb!” cried the boy earnestly, and the skipper nodded his head so quickly that the water flew off in a shower.
But, as some wag once said, the wisest way is to wait till after something has happened before you begin to prophesy about it.
Captain Chubb had probably never heard about the wisdom of this proceeding in foretelling events, for it so happened that in spite of the storm increasing in violence for many hours, his words proved to be entirely wrong.