This, with much distress and profanity by everybody, they endeavored to do. But, inasmuch as the little boat kept up its clipping, it was not easy. However, at length, a bit of sail was rigged, a drag attached for a rudder, and what was left of the Tonans stood feebly to the wind. The little craft seemed to wait and look curiously on.
And now and then they heard that huge voice laugh at them: “Ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha!”
Nevertheless they were making headway. For the sails of the Tonans had not been clipped.
A slight boom was heard presently from the direction of the tiny boat,—the first they had heard,—though it was now nearly out of sight, and at once a strange missile ploughed its way through the Tonans from the stern, and stopped in the middle of the waist. It was of iron, conical, prettily made, ornamented with bright bands of metal, and about the size of Jawrge, the boots.
The entire ship’s company gathered and viewed it curiously.
“The entire ship’s company gathered and viewed it curiously”
“Stand me up on my good leg,” cried Ruhet, as curious as Jawrge. “Now, where did that come from?” he demanded of the sailors, as if some of them had put it there. No one answered.
“Certainly it did not come from that little toy. She’s out of sight.”
Not a soul spoke.