“That’s the best news I’ve heard this long while,” remarked George, who despite his seeming valor, was secretly much distressed over the outlook.
The thunder increased in violence. Then they heard the sweep of the wind through the pines and hemlocks on the shore. And in less than ten minutes the rain was pouring down like a deluge.
They had secured things so that little harm would be done. Still, the outlook was far from attractive, with several hours of darkness ahead; during which they must keep on constant guard, not knowing at what minute the wind might take a notion to veer around to some quarter, that would send the waves dashing against the rockbound shore so near by.
It seemed as severe a gale as the one they had experienced only a short time before. Indeed, Jack was of the opinion that the wind was even greater, though they did not feel it the same way, because of the shelter obtained from the land.
They would never be apt to forget that night, no matter how time passed. Watching was serious business for Nick; and three times he was known to creep over to where Herb kept his cracker bag, doubtless to interest himself in a little “snack,” so as to briefly forget his other troubles.
Nor did Herb have the heart to take him to task about it. Their situation was so very distressing that he could think of nothing else. Every time the lightning flamed athwart the black sky the boys would look out at the troubled waters stretching as far as the eye could see; or else send an anxious glance toward the grim rocks that loomed up so very close over their bows.
Hours seemed like days. Nick groaned, and declared he ached in every bone.
“What d’ye think of me, then?” demanded Josh. “You’re well padded; while I reckon my poor old bones are going to stick through, pretty soon. I dassent stand up, because George won’t let me; and you can. I wish you had my berth, Buster.”
But at last Herb declared that there were certainly signs of dawn coming in the east. Every eye was turned that way; and upon learning that the news was true the boys began to take on fresh hope.
“Well,” George said for the tenth time, “I’m glad of one thing, and that is we managed to get my engine in working order last night before supper. Goodness knows what a fix I’d have been in otherwise, if we had to put out to sea when the wind changed.”