Darkness soon hid both vessels. During the night the wind began to draw more aft, and although it was blowing 'pretty fresh' Captain Thorne immediately came on deck, and ordered the mate to set the lower and port topmast stu'n's'ls.
'I won't be passed even by a wool ship, if I can help it,' he added.
'I scarcely think she can stand them,' Mr. Fortune observed.
'Then call Sennit, sir,' was the sharp reply.
His own old mate was promptly to the fore. The extra canvas was 'bent' and also set. The strain on all the gear was tremendous, and in rising anxiety the watch alternately eyed it and the captain; but everything stood splendidly, and the skysails and main moonsail were stowed for the night.
Next morning the Australian was just visible astern, and she had nothing above a main top-gallant-sail set. Anyhow, she soon began to 'wake up' and set more canvas.
'What are we doing now, Fortune?' the skipper inquired.
A couple of hands were called aft, and the log was hove. The captain himself took the sandglass and awaited the order to 'Turn!'
The line flew out astern, the reel rattled and shook as it had never done before, and the old man shouted, 'Stop!'
'Fourteen and a half knots, sir,' Mr. Fortune said. 'I've been in her two voyages, but never saw anything like this.'