[pg 244]
THE PORT ROCK BOAT
The Port Rock boat was due to leave her dock. The first mate made his way to the upper deck. He found his captain in the pilot-house, studying the barometer.
"Freight all aboard, sir."
"All right," nodded the captain; "but did you hear about the storm flags being up?"
"So I heard, sir."
"M-m! Close that door. It's cold." The mate closed the door; but almost immediately the captain raised a window and gazed down the harbor. "It looks bad to me," he said after a while.
"It is a bad-looking night," assented the mate.
"A wicked night!" barked the captain; and gathering one end of his moustache between his teeth, began to chew on it.