That evening and night all farewells were said to those on shore. The broadsword-men of the Breezy had a good send off and left Sidney homeward bound next forenoon at four bells.
Said Jack Stormalong to a brother gunner as the ship got well away from the shore, "Ned, my old shippie, we're homeward bound, you know, but there's something in the wind, and I'm ready to bet my best new jacket to a pint o' tar that we won't touch England's happy shores for months to come yet."
"On with you," said Ned. "I'll have your swagger jacket or you'll have my pint o' tar with a cinder in it for luck."
CHAPTER XXV
A GREAT OCEAN RACE.--"GODDARD BEGAN TO SHOOT"
It wasn't only Jack Stormalong and his chum who "kind o' felt" there was something in the air but all hands. There was, maybe, going to be a fight with a pirate, or more savages were coming to the front, or war was declared against Germany; but they didn't mind, and A.B.'s said to each other: "We may be content if it ain't straight home, old pal. We'll git there some time."
"And the more months, the more money, eh?"
But there was no grumbling. Even little Sneyd, the Acting Paymaster, forbore to growl.
The Captain studied the chart, and sailed east and away with a point or two of south in it after they rounded Australia. Making all calculations, he believed he could reach the island some days at all events before the Fortuna, who must already have reached the straits of Java, or be about the south end of Borneo. No one could guess what the mate, who was now, of course, captain of the sail-search-of-fortune barque might do.
Now that they were fairly away at sea, there was no harm in all hands knowing the meaning of the enterprise.