Well, soon after this they got past the breakwater and well into the beautiful Sound.
Boats in swarms begin to surround her, but not a soul, woman or man, can get on board till the medical officer comes and they get pratique, a clean bill of health.
But the men are allowed to talk from the gun-ports to their friends and relatives beneath. All are anxious all are either sad or joyful.
How the wife beams when she sees her Jack's brown face peeping smilingly down.
But oh! the grief and sorrow of some poor women when they ask some other sailor about their Tom or Bill.
"Where is Bill?"
"Where is my Tom?"
It is hard, hard to answer such questions, but it must be done.
"Ah, missus," says Jack at the port, "we've been a-fightin' hard wi' bloomin' niggers, and poor Tom got scuppered!"
Some women faint. Some turn pale, dazed, and sink down stunned in the stern-sheets.