"Sh-h! There's something," said the other voice.
The voices were hushed. Two long moans came over the sea.
"Wait for them again. And time 'em." The captain's voice that.
Mrs. Goles stepped closer to Jan. "Does it mean there's danger to the ship?" she asked in a low voice in Jan's ear.
"No, no. But listen!"
One long moan and one short moan came fitfully over the sea.
"Thatcher's Island steam-whistle," said the captain's voice. "An' bearing so." So thick was the night with snow that Jan had to strain his sight to make out the mittened hand and coatsleeve stretching out through the window over his head.
Jan felt the wind whipping him on the other side, [pg 250] and with that there came from the pilot-house: "Well, if that ain't the devil's own luck! Here's the wind makin' into the north-west and the chief whistlin' up half-steam's all he can keep on her!"
"Ain't it always something wrong! I told 'em about them boilers—that they been leakin' right along. What will we do?"
"Only one thing to do now. Run her before it. Besides, she'll be blown offshore soon now. Run her across the bay. South-south-east. She ought to fetch Provincetown."