“There’s a bank of clouds poking up over yonder that may mean trouble,” Jack went on to say. “So just get your stoutest cable hitched to a cleat forward, and pass me the other end.”
“What for?” asked George.
“I’m going to tow you, that’s all,” Jack replied.
“Shucks! is that necessary?” demanded the proud George, with a slight frown.
“It sure is, for every furlong we cover now brings us that much nearer a safe harbor; and if those clouds are out for business, we’ll need all we can gain,” Jack went on to insist.
“Then I suppose I’ll just have to,” the other continued; “here, Nick, get out the hawser, and I’ll clamp it on to this cleat. But see here, Jack, after you get started, Nick can keep watch while I work at the engine, can’t he?”
“Nothing for him to do but hold the wheel and keep straight after me. Perhaps when the little Tramp does her prettiest, the two of us can keep going as fast as the Comfort goes; and so nothing will have been lost after all, George.”
“That’s true; only I don’t like it one little bit,” grunted George, as he commenced to fasten one end of the hawser to the stout little cleat—for, to tell the truth, George was a mighty poor loser.
Once Jack had the other end of the line, he made it secure to the stern of his own staunch boat.
“Here goes now; look out!” he warned, as he started forward once more.