Part 50 (2/2)
”Have you read the remainder of the verses?” asked Billy ”Sos, and sorand, but I am apt to break down for want of appropriate rhyot a dictionary, and I'll run my eye down it, and select as many as you can want”
”I should like to have finished theoes on shore,” said Billy
”I don't see how that can be ain put to sea; it will be a last tender mark of your affection, and she will appreciate it If you rite the address on an envelope I will get it sent with the captain's letters”
Billy was contented with this proposal, and turned in until his watch on deck caht the _Bellona_ slowly steah heavy undulations rolled on beneath the shi+p towards the shore On approaching it the loud roar of the surf was heard It soon became evident that it would be utterly inal to ask how long this state of things would last The ansas unsatisfactory It reatly wanted, but it would be iers was requested to keep close to the coast, that no opportunity ht be lost in case the surf should unexpectedly cease He accordingly put the shi+p's head round, and was steaines stopped
The anchor, of course, was now the only resource, as there was not sufficient wind to enable the shi+p to claw off the land As rapidly as possible the anchor was let go No sooner had it caught the ground, and the cable run out, than the influence of the rollers began sensibly to be felt and the shi+p began pitching in a very unsatisfactorycoast, with a broad line of white breakers dashi+ng savagely on it On trying the current, it was found setting west by north at the rate of a mile and a half an hour, which, with the swell, would soon have placed the shi+p in a erous position Jack hie to the ineers to ith all speed The chief engineer looked grave
”We ought to be in harbour, with smooth water, to accomplish this work,”
he observed; ”but ill do our best, sir”
”Should a breeze spring up, ill get under way, and the shi+p will be far more steady than she is now,” answered Jack ”What was the cause of the accident?”
”A flaw, sir, which ought to have been discovered It is only a wonder that it did not give way before, and I cannot account for its going now
However, as I said, sir, ill do our best”
”You can do no more, Mr Rivett,” answered Jack ”Send for as many hands as you want, if they can assist you”
”Our own people are enough at present, but we may want them by-and-by,”
was the answer
Jack returned on deck to find his principal guest looking rather pale
The h at sea to know that a shi+p caught on a lee shore, with the chance of a heavy gale springing up, was not in a pleasant position He felt also somewhat physically upset by the unusualat her cable as if at any instant she ht haul the anchor froed in case of accident, for, should the bower anchor be carried away, there would be no ti up
It is an ill wind that blows nobody good; and Billy was congratulating hi a few elica, but the motion of the shi+p had produced the sath she did appear on deck, Toion of the mouth
”I say, Billy,” he observed, mischievously, ”I think it would be very appropriate to compare her to the sunflower now”
In vain Billy tried to console her; she was too th had to lead her below to the door of her cabin
The calh the weather looked very threatening In vain the engineers toiled on without ceasing It e could be repaired
The night came on The captain, first lieutenant, and master felt too uneasy to turn in Either the second or third lieutenant remained on the forecastle, ready to issue the necessary orders for letting go the other cable, should the first give way It held on, however, until , but still the same heavy surf as before rolled on the shore, fronals, the reply ca, we shall have a breeze,” said the master
”I hope it won't come due south; and from the look of the sky I should say that we shall have it from the south-west, or perhaps froet it, that it will be from a quarter which will enable us to make sail,” answered Jack
Still hour after hour went by, and no breeze caht, a few ripples were seen on the water They became more frequent