And there was little chance to get to know Jorgensen or Wright. Certainly no opportunity to discuss Farnell with them. As long as the wind held it was watch and watch about. The watch on duty went below as soon as it was relieved by the other watch. And during the day there were meals to get and the other chores to be done. And every now and then the watch below had to be called to help change sails. All I had time to notice in those first two days was that Jorgensen was a first-rate sailor and seemed to be literally enjoying the trip and that Curtis Wright settled down quickly.
The third day out the wind veered back to sou'-sou'-east. We were able to take out our last reef, set main tops'l and yankee. The sea lessened to a steep swell. We were nearly four hundred miles on our way by then and the sun was shining. We began to sight some of the trawlers of the Aberdeen fleet. There were gulls about and occasionally a stormy petrel skimmed low over the tumbled waters like a flying fish.
That was the morning on which things began to develop. We were able to relax, and think of other things besides sailing. At noon I handed the wheel over to Jorgensen. Dick had taken both watches for'ard to get the main tops'l down and replace a jammed swivel shackle. For the first time since we'd started I was alone with the Norwegian. 'Course north twenty-five east,' I told him as I climbed stiffly out of the wheel seat.
He nodded and took the wheel, peering forward at the compass. Then he raised his eyes to the group busy on the halyards round the mainmast. Finally he looked up at me. 'Just a moment, Mr Gansert,' he said, for I was going for'ard myself to lend a hand. I stopped then and he said, 'my health is benefiting greatly from this little trip. But I do not think my business will — unless we can come to some arrangement.'
'How do you mean?' I asked.
He leaned back, holding the wheel easily in his strong fingers. 'I admit that I was not being honest with you when I said I was not interested in Farnell. I am — and particularly now that I know he has communicated with you recently. He told you, I suppose, that he had made important mineral discoveries in Norway?'
There was no point in denying it. 'His message implied that,' I answered.
'Did he tell you what metal he had discovered?' he asked.
I nodded. 'Yes,' I said. 'And sent samples.''
'By post, I suppose?' His eyes were watching me narrowly.