“No, how could I,” said Willy, “when I knew how much you wanted it?”
Willy was amply rewarded with the smile the young ladies bestowed on him.
“That is indeed true chivalry,” observed Emma Morley to her sister.
Chapter Twelve.
The “Crusader” is disabled.
Fever still on board—Plans for the future—Emily and May attend the sick—Mrs Clagget’s suspicions—Scene on deck of emigrant ship—Land in sight—Arrival at Cape Town—“Crusader” again ready for sea—“Crusader” meets another ship—Charles and Bill Windy on board—The lost one recovered—Charles narrates his adventures—Seaman overboard recovered—Attempts to follow the ship—Ship lost sight of—Without food or water in boat—Windy keeps up the men’s spirits—They steer for Trinidada—Long voyage in prospect—Sufferings from hunger and thirst—Picked up by homeward bound ship—Get on board ship bound for the Cape—End of Charlie’s narrative—“Crusader” stands to the south—A gale comes on—Tremendous seas—Sail blown from boltropes—Mrs Clagget’s tongue in the storm—Mrs Clagget begs the captain to change his course—Ship thrown on her beam-ends—The masts cut away—The “Crusader” springs a leak.
The “Crusader” having sailed sufficiently far south to obtain the assistance of the prevailing westerly winds, once more, with studding-sails on either side, glided rapidly over the ocean towards the southern end of Africa.
Besides the sickness which still prevailed, she had run short of water, in consequence of her long detention in the calms of the Tropics; and this made it doubly necessary for her to touch at the Cape, in order to obtain a fresh supply before she continued her course across the Southern Ocean.