“Everybody knew he wanted to go, didn’t they?” said Pat.
“Everybody,” said the Princess. “But they were all eager, now, to go to the rescue.
“So the Jane Ellen sailed on fast, and drew nearer and nearer to the brig; and when they were near enough to see, she was a sight!
“Some of her rigging was gone, and halyards and bowlines and braces and all kinds of ropes and sails were trailing in the water; and a flag of distress flip-flip-flipping in the breeze over it all.
“It was the Reindeer brig, and her captain was a friend of the captain of the Jane Ellen. So when they were hove-to, beside the Reindeer, the Captain—with the Mate standing by—was very glad to welcome his friend on board.
“‘Now, tell us all about what has happened to the Reindeer,’ he said.
“The captain of the brig was a short man with bright black eyes, and he hated to wait for anything. When he wanted a thing, he wanted it that very minute; and when he sent a man on an errand he often went after him before he had time to come back, because it seemed so long to him. His name was Gryller, but Skipper seemed to suit him exactly, so he was very seldom called Captain Gryller.
“When he came aboard the Jane Ellen, he could hardly wait for the proper greetings to be over before he began to tell his story. He spoke very fast; the words pattered, clean, and there sounded a great many rr’s in them.
“‘It’s that Waterspout!’ he said. ‘He’s played the mischief with my rrigging!’
“‘What? Torquillon?’ asked the Captain.