For the first time since receiving his appointment as master of the vessel, Tom realized that he had something of a task before him. To begin with, he had at least a mile of harbor to traverse before he reached the bay. The harbor was very crooked, and, in some places, too narrow to admit of much maneuvering; and, even in the day-time, with a fair wind, it would have required the exercise of all his skill and judgment to take his vessel through the shipping that lay at the wharves without some accident. One reason why he had declined to assume charge of the yacht during the trial trip, was because he was afraid he could not take her safely into the bay, and he would not have thought of attempting it now had he been in his sober senses. The night was so dark that he could not see the shore, except when an occasional flash of lightning revealed it to him; and the wind was blowing directly up the harbor, raising a sea that, even in that sheltered position, made it difficult for the captain to keep his feet without holding fast to something. Tom shuddered when he thought of what they would experience if they succeeded in reaching the bay, where the wind could have a fair sweep at them.
"Come, skipper!" said the governor, seeing that Tom did not issue any orders; "are you afraid to try it?"
"O, no!" replied the captain, arousing himself, and pulling the collar of his pea-jacket up around his ears, "I was just thinking what was best to be done. Xury, look around and find a tow-line. Governor, take two men and get into your yawl; pull around under the bow, and stand by to take the tow-line."
"What's that fur?" demanded the chief.
"Why, we've got to tow the ship out of the harbor, haven't we?" drawled Tom.
"Well, if you'll find the yawl fur me, I'll do it. I let her go as soon as we got the things out, an' there's no tellin' where she is by this time."
"O, now, what made you do that?" exclaimed the captain. "Who ordered you to turn her adrift?"
"Why didn't you tell me that you wanted to use her? A nice skipper you'll make, if you don't look out fur things better than that."
"Here's a tow-line, cap'n," said Xury.