"But it's beastly thick, and we've scarcely seen the land since morning," said Niven.
Stickine laughed. "It's about six hours since I had a glimpse of it myself, but that don't count for much," he said. "Ned Jordan got a bearing, and he'd tell you right off what the schooner had made every tack. Tie him up with a sack round his head, and she'd be just where he wanted her when he brought her up. I guess we've 'bout got there now."
Almost as he spoke Jordan's voice rose up. "Jib to windward, and get the boats over soon as she loses way. Don't hang around a minute after you're through with the water."
"Will we take the rifles?" asked Stickine.
"One," said Jordan dryly. "If you fire quick twice I'll send off another boat to you, but you've got to remember I don't want to. We've nothing against the Americans just now, and I'm not going round looking for trouble with anybody."
They swung two boats over, and Appleby managed to slip on board one before he was noticed by anybody except Niven, who sprang into the last one as the men got the oars out.
The skipper's dark figure showed up for a moment as he looked down from the bulwarks of the rolling schooner.
"You're going for water, boys, and if you bring one holluschack along you'll take it right back ashore," he said. "That's quite plain?"
There was a murmur which did not suggest altogether willing obedience, but no one could mistake the little ring in Jordan's voice, and Stickine signed to the men.
"You heard him, boys? Now, stretch your backs," he said.