"Is the danger really over?" asked the boys eagerly, as they sprang from the berth upon the wet floor.
"The worst is over, thank God! It was a tough storm and a stiff blow, but the Una rode it out," he said proudly. "One mast got a bad wrench, and all the canvas that could get loose got ripped into rags; but that's nothin' to what it might have been, considerin' how the wind roared and howled over the sea. Folks blame the sea for these accidents; but bless you, the sea ain't to blame! How can it help rearing up, with a gale like that throwing it on its pitchfork? I don't like to see things abused, and I stick up for the sea; it behaves well enough as long as the wind lets it."
"Where are we?" asked the boys, as they reached the deck and looked curiously around. "There's no land at all in sight!"
"No; we got blown well out to sea. It's lucky we didn't try to make a port last night: we'd have been caught among some o' them islands if we had, and knocked to pieces on the rocks."
"That's so," added Marcus, with a wise shake of the head.
"You two fellows did first-rate last night!"
"You are chaffing, captain," said Ralph, looking red.
"No, honestly. I expected I'd have trouble with you when that storm came; but I'll say that for you--you did first-rate!"
"We were too scared to do any other way," confessed Ben with a laugh.
"Scared or not, some folks will make a rumpus just when they ought to keep stillest.--Now, Marcus, give us a good breakfast, and then we'll shake out our canvas and see where our damages are. We must be working back, for I don't propose to let this wind drive us off shore any further than I can help.--One time last night, along the first of the blow, we came very near Whaleback, boys; but a miss is as good as a mile when the danger is over."