“That’s enough, mate; take in sail and reef. Just make her fit to encounter anything; and, I say”—the mate had touched his cap and was retiring—“I think we might as well have fires ready to light, in case, you know.”
“Going to be bad weather, captain?” said Ingomar, entering the saloon just then.
“Not sure. Nothing is certain in these seas. It is dark enough to have the lights turned on, but that makes things look gloomy when one goes on deck.”
“Yes; and the sudden transition from bright light to comparative darkness is certainly somewhat depressing.”
“Anyhow, boys all, there’s two things I don’t mean to do, and one I’ve made up my mind to. I’m not going to be blown back if I can help it; I’m not going to waste my precious coals so as to have to burn the bulkheads in an emergency; and if the wind doesn’t go with me, why, I’ll go with the wind.”
“Hurrah!” cried Ingomar. “That is capital policy all through.”
The boys clapped their hands, because it occurred to them that it was the best thing to do.
Everything was conducted during this voyage with the greatest regularity. The very same precautions as to lights was taken at night—though small, indeed, was the likelihood of a ship being met—as would have been observed in steering up or down our own English Channel. There were three watches, so that, in these inclement seas, the men might not suffer from fatigue; the temperature of the water and air had to be taken each watch; the sky and clouds observed, and the force of the wind marked, etc., and all was logged. Notes were taken even of the appearance of seals or whales, the flight of birds, the colour of the sea and floating seaweed. One well-kept log of a voyage is of great use to future mariners who sail the same seas; from many logs so kept, are deduced about all that science knows of winds and seas and ocean currents.
In a few minutes after the mate had gone on deck, the ship seemed to stop suddenly short, to stand suddenly still, and the sails began to flap uncertainly. There was much confusion now on deck, and slacking off of sheets and shouting of orders, for the mate knew not from which side the wind would come next.