Part 83 (1/2)
”Didn't you see the schooner hoist a flag?”
”Of course I did, but I thought she was a friend Why are they going to fight? Oh, I know: it's only a shaht, for practice”
”I don't believe it is sha his teeth, and theold Jacques don't like, and he's going to bring the those ready for breakfast?”
They were opposite the galley as Vince spoke, and he had suddenly caught sight of the cook, as hurrying on his fire, and heating about half a dozen rods of iron between the bars of the stove
”Oh yes, I arin--”for soo down below if I was you; it may mean ork if the wind don't come soon”
”What has the wind to do with it?” said Vince
”To do with it! Everything, my lad If the wind coht”
”But why are we going to fight the schooner?”
”The schooner!” said the s to Jarks, and trades to the south coast Didn't you see her signal?”
”Yes”
”Well, that ht fro”
”But what are those rods for?” said Mike eagerly
”Don't be such a blockhead, Ladle!” cried Vince excitedly ”Why did we make the poker red-hot anted to fire the old shi+p gun on your lawn?”
”Look--look!” cried Mike
There was no need, for Vince had seen the white flying jib of a cutter co, with plenty of wind urging her on, while, by the tiht air made the schooner's sails shi+ver, but only for a few ain, while the cutter, now quite clear of the point, was careening over and gliding rapidly along, with a pleasant breeze astern
Just then the captain ca no notice of the boys, but giving a few sharp orders to the e of the first puff of wind
”We're not going below, are hispered Mike
”No; I want to see what's done,” said Vince
”Then you like fighting before breakfast better than I do,” said the cook ”Look, there goes her colours, and she'll send a shot across the _Shark's_ bows directly We shall get it next”
He had hardly spoken before there was a white puff of s fro the boys saw the water splash up twice from somewhere near the schooner's bohile within half a er's course, as she glided slowly along with the swift current, which was drawing theo arn't here,” said the cook
”Why?” asked Vince