Chapter Seventeen.
“It’s them.”
“Wal,” said the master, “reckon that arn’t quite such a good stick as I thout it war.”
I sat looking despondently at the wreck, for the accident had happened just as I felt sure of our overtaking the schooner, which was rapidly gliding away from us again, when Esau caught hold of my arm.
“I say, arn’t going to the bottom, are we?”
“All our trouble for nothing, I’m afraid, my lads,” said Gunson.
“What are yew two looking at?” roared the master. “Going to let them two sails drag down under the boat? Haul ’em in, will yew!”
These words startled the two men into action, and they began to loosen the ropes and haul in the sails rapidly, prior to getting the broken mast on board.