Ethan wrung the speaker’s hand.
“Thank you,” said he. “This is very good of you, indeed.”
“Don’t speak of it,” answered McHale. “But to horse and let’s be off to where the lugger is tied up.”
As they climbed into their saddles Longsword asked,
“How soon can you be ready to put to sea?”
“The minute I put me foot upon the deck, my lads will be ready to cast off. The secret of the lugger’s success is in her always being ready.”
A sharp quick gallop of a quarter of an hour brought them to the wharf where the Erin was moored. She was a trim looking three-master and the length of the yards showed that her spread of canvas would be immense for her tonnage. Ethan hurriedly made arrangements for the return of the horses to their owner, and then followed the two Irishmen on board the Erin.
The lugger’s crew were stout, hardy looking young men, with the air of having braved danger many times and not fearing to look it in the face. True to Captain McHale’s word, they had cast off the lines, towed the vessel into the stream and had the sails drawing within a very short time after he came aboard.
“You are right,” said Ethan as he noted the little vessel’s progress with satisfaction. “The Erin has speed.”
“She sails like a hawk, sir, before the wind,” said her captain proudly.