The men gathered about us to hear what was said.
‘Three mile about,’ he answered.
‘More like five,’ grumbled out a seaman.
‘Five in your eye!’ cried another—‘more like tew. If ye’ll stay your breathing, you’ll hear the wash o’ the surf.’
‘Better shorten sail and wait for daylight, Mr. Lush,’ said I.
‘Ay, ay, sir,’ he answered; ‘that’ll be the proper thing to do;’ and instantly fell to bellowing out orders.
The uproar of the excited crew clewing up and hauling down, yelling as they pulled at the ropes, and springing about with an alacrity that made their darting figures resemble those of madmen, awakened Miss Temple. I stood alone on the poop, endeavouring to obtain a view of the land by leaning over the rail, when she came up to me.
‘What is it, Mr. Dugdale?’
‘Land!’ I exclaimed, instantly turning to her.
‘The island?’ she cried, suppressing astonishment until she should have received my answer.