"I was consid'able well known up there before things went wrong, and I got so kind of discouraged," he admitted. "But you—you're a terrible resky little Portergee!"
Manuel drew a breath that made his small chest heave; it was going to be all right with Cap'n 'Siah, whom he did not fear, but loved.
"The disrespect I lament him," he repeated, anxiously, "but the wind so fair, and to be the first in with the herring, and the Delight so comfortable, with bunks for every one except Jo and me, who have known life, and are content with coils of rope!"
"How come he to let you have the vessel?" asked Cap'n 'Siah, abruptly.
"Michael Fretas he is my friend and countryman," answered Manuel, evasively.
There was all the moonlight that Manuel had promised, and the wind held instead of going down at night-fall, as it so often does; in fact, it made the waves so rough that as they drew near Boston Light little Israel was very seasick, and even Caddy had a qualm. But who remembered that when the Delight thrust her sharp little nose between the larger vessels that lay at T wharf, in the murky morning light? Little Israel felt that life had suddenly turned into a fairy-story, and young Josiah, and even Caddy, had little doubt that the family fortunes were made.
Alas and alas! T wharf was piled with barrels of herring! On an adjoining wharf was a small mountain of the fish, as they had been shovelled from a schooner! The great catch had begun to reach the Boston market in the steamer that got in the night before, and in two or three large schooners that could take all the wind out of the little Delight's sails!
"Why hadn't you listened to me and kept from such foolhardy pranks!" cried Cap'n 'Siah, in angry despair. "Here we be, likely to be becalmed, and not get home for a week, with a cargo that's good for nothing but to heave overboard, and no victuals to eat!"
Little Israel gave way to despair at this dreadful prospect and set up a mighty roar. Caddy thought it was better, after all, to have a bump of caution; and young Josiah, with red rims appearing around his eyes, as they always did when he was frightened, looked inquiringly at the leader of the enterprise.
"It is so—as I have hardly thought it possible—the market is glut!" said the leader, calmly, but with a sharp line between his tensely drawn brows.