“Is this all true?” he asked.
“Yes, sir, every word of it. You know how bad it was.”
“And you followed our boat?”
“Followed the way we last saw your sail, sir, for long before it was dark the boat went out of sight. But just as I’d give up all hope of seeing it again, we saw your fire like a spark on shore, and we come after that.”
“Rowed?” I said.
“No, sir; sailed. There’s a little lug-sail to the boat. We didn’t lose sight of the fire again, and at last we ran our boat ashore.”
“And you’ve come to offer your services?” said my uncle.
“Yes, sir,” said the man gruffly.
“But even if I could take you under the circumstances, I don’t want the services of any man.”
“Your’s is a big boat, sir, and hard to manage, particular at sea,” said the carpenter.