No one turned in that night, and the crew were kept at their quarters, to be ready for a sudden attack.
When the sun rose out of the ocean, his beams fell on the tails of our foes, throwing a ruddy glow on the calm waters, which shone like a plain of molten gold. Eager eyes were looking out for a breeze. Should it come from the direction of our foes, they would have every chance of catching us; but if ahead, we should have the advantage of them, and thus be able to slip out of their way.
Several hours passed by. We were still the same distance as before from the enemy.
I was on the forecastle with Dick, when I caught sight of a slight ripple which played over the surface. I pointed it out to my companion.
“All right, Charley,” he said. “Those catspaws are a good sign. There’s another and another.”
Presently the sails gave a flap. In a moment every one was in activity: the yards were braced sharp up, the royals filled, then the topgallantsails and topsails bulged out, and away we glided. Looking astern, we saw that the Spaniards still remained becalmed. The captain’s ruddy countenance beamed with satisfaction at the hopes of carrying off his booty in safety.
“We shall give the Dons the ‘good-bye,’” he shouted out to his wife below.
Kitty quickly came on deck, and I saw how thankful she felt.
Gradually our enemies’ sails sank beneath the horizon, and at length we had the satisfaction of losing sight of them altogether. Still the captain observed, that as they would guess the course we had taken, they might be after us; and until two days had passed by, he did not feel altogether secure.
We now steered back to the whaling-ground, where we remained for a couple of months, half filling the ship with oil.