The boat was now standing out from the shore, and while Thomas was still busy, whistling off his fears, a violent gust of wind struck the sail, causing the boat to heel over so far that she drank up several buckets of water, and would have filled if the sprit had not broken, thus removing the pressure.
"Come, Paul, I have got enough of this," cried Thomas, uneasily.
"I don't think you will be able to get any more of it, for the sprit has snapped, and we can't carry sail any longer," replied Paul, apparently unmoved by the accident. "Bale her out as fast as you can, and I will take an oar, and keep her head up to the sea".
"What will you do now?" asked Thomas, whose courage was sorely tried by the perilous situation of the boat.
"Get the water out, and we will see what can be done," answered Paul, who, though he had already decided this important question, would not permit his passenger to enter into his counsels, preferring to tantalize him by his mysterious manner.
"Let us get ashore, Paul, as soon as possible."
"Going to back out?"
"No; what's the use of talking in that way, about backing out, when you can't carry sail?" replied Thomas, whose pride was still unconquered, though his courage was rapidly failing him.
"I shall rig a new sprit; there's the boat-hook, which will make a very good one; it is just the right length."
"I'll give up then, and back out," said Thomas, despairing of any relief from the misfortunes that had befallen the boat.