"Surely. It is ready in my room." And he went below and came up with it, a great beribboned and bewaxed envelope, saying, "Deliver it when the time comes, Gad. Or wait, let Miss Shiela do it," and handed it to her instead.
She blushed vividly and placed it in her portmanteau. "Thank you, sir," she said.
I had difficulty in keeping my eyes off her, even though I was again acting as first officer of the Bess, and my first duty just now was to keep an eye on the two ships and render judgment as to their intentions.
"That fellow to the south seems to have decided to bid up for the Savannah River entrance on the next tack, sir," I reported.
[pg 165]
"Yes." He was busy with the Cunninghams and spoke absently, though it was also likely that he saw better than I did what the man-o'-war would be at. "That's good. Let him stretch that tack all he pleases."
"Then we are not to stand in yet, sir?"
"Not yet, not till the northerly fellow comes into stays. We'll tack then, but not for the river."
The frigate to the north came into the wind, and as she did we wore ship and stood up; not a great divergence from our old course, but enough to make them think we might yet come about and try for the open sea. The ship to the south of us took notice then and came into the wind, and while they were hanging there we eased off and headed straight for the white beach to the north of the river.