"Hold on," exclaimed Xury. "Mebbe she won't handle well without a head sail. You had oughter hist one of them jibs."
"No, sir," replied the chief. "It aint best to put up too much canvas in this breeze. We've got a long voyage to make, an' we must be careful of our vessel. Muley, you ketch hold of the peak halyard, an' the rest of us man the throat-halyard. All ready, now! Hist away."
As this order was obeyed, the yacht began to plunge and careen worse than ever; and presently, a flash of lightning showed Tom that they were drifting up the harbor.
"Sam!" he almost gasped, "she's dragging the anchor."
"Hist away, lively," exclaimed the chief, in desperation. "If you've got any muscle at all, show it now;" and catching up his lantern, he ran forward, intending to slip the chain. But he was saved that trouble. The cable, which had not been intended to hold the yacht in a gale of wind, with her mainsail set, parted with a loud snap, and for a moment the little vessel was at the mercy of the storm. The greatest excitement prevailed among the crew. The lightning flashed again, and Sam held his breath in dismay when he saw that the Storm King was being driven rapidly toward the shore. It was a capital opportunity for him to make an exhibition of his seamanship, but he had not the slightest idea of what ought to be done; neither had Tom Newcombe, who stood holding fast to the peak-halyard, his mouth open, and his tongue paralyzed with terror. Fortunately for the Crusoe band, for the vessel, and for the comfort of the prisoners below, there was one boy on board who kept his wits about him, and that was Xury.
"Belay all!" he shouted, springing to the wheel. "Stand by the main-sheet! Haul in, fur your lives."
Xury put the helm hard-a-starboard, the boom flew over with a jerk, prostrating two of the crew who were careless enough to put themselves in its way, and the next moment the yacht was thrown almost on her beam ends. But Xury was equal to the emergency. He handled the wheel with a great deal of skill, and proved himself to be worthy of the position he held. He "eased her up" without a moment's delay; the Storm King righted, and the next flash of lightning showed the crew that she was scudding across the harbor at a terrific rate of speed.
"Bully for you, Xury!" shouted the governor, who never once thought of the danger they might be in. "We're all right now. From this time on, you are my first-lieutenant."
"Put a look-out on the forecastle, governor," exclaimed Xury, yelling with all the strength of his lungs, in order to make himself heard above the howling of the wind, "I can't see a foot."
"Jerusalem!" shouted Will Atkins, suddenly. "Look out, Xury!"