“Look, sir,” exclaimed the pilot, turning to the northeast, “do you not see how the sky is lowering over yonder? and do you not feel what a roll of the sea there is?—a sure sign of a coming storm, if there has not been a gale before. Take an old man’s advice for once, and one who has weathered many a tough gale—keep not to sea to-night, but enter the harbour, where you will be safe from every wind that blows.”
“Thank you, my old boy,” said Harry; “but a seaman must not be frightened with every capful of wind that may blow.” So saying, he moved off to give directions.
By this time the ship was again under way; but, although Harry had disregarded the advice of the old pilot about entering the harbour, yet he determined to make the ship snug for what might happen. So, seizing a speaking-trumpet, he bawled out to some men aloft—
“Send down the royals and topgallantmasts there.”
“Ay, ay, sir,” shouted half a dozen voices from the clouds; and in a minute down they came.
Harry, coming up to Archer, the second lieutenant, asked him what he thought of the weather.
“I believe we are going to get a stiff north-easter,” replied Archer; “and, by the Lord Harry, there it comes!” said he, pointing to the east.
“Well, then,” said Harry, “get the topsails double-reefed, new lash the guns, and send the carpenter and his mate to secure the boats and batten down the hatchways. What course do you steer?” asked Harry at the man at the wheel.
“South-east and by south,” said the man.