Chapter Fifteen.
The voyage of the “Intrepid” begun.
I slept right through the night, and was surprised to find when I opened my eyes that it was daylight. Jim and I at once turned out and went on deck.
There was the land, broad on the starboard bow, still at some distance. When I looked aloft I saw that the yards were square, and studding-sails on either side. A strong north-easterly wind was blowing, and we were running down Channel.
The captain, the first mate, and the doctor were on deck. Jim and I gazed eagerly at the land.
I went up to the doctor.
“Whereabouts are we, sir?” I asked.
“We are off the Start, my lad.”
“Off the Start!” I exclaimed. “Oh, sir, won’t the captain put into Plymouth to land us as he promised? Do speak to him, sir.”
“These lads are very anxious to be landed, Captain Hawkins,” he said. “It is of the greatest importance to young Trawl here, and it would not much delay us.”