"
"I swan!" rejoined the old man. "What did he set sail for, then?
Ain't he got a mite of sense? But, I tell ye, Ida May, if he don't
get more canvas on her, and get under better way, he'll never make
that channel in this world."
"Oh!"
"The schooner's sure to go on the outer reef. She never can claw off
the land now. Without help--if that's his trouble--Tunis Latham will
never get that schooner into Big Wreck Cove. And God help him and
them that's with him!" added the captain reverently.
CHAPTER XXXII
A GIRL TO THE RESCUE
On shore the gale seemed a stiff and dangerous blow. At sea, even
with a stanch deck under one's feet, the wind proved to have passed
the hurricane mark long since. The captain of the _Seamew_ felt that
the elements had conspired bitterly to assail his schooner. Before
they were a mile beyond the end of the Hollis breakwater, Tunis knew
that he had the fight of his seagoing experience on his hands.
When they were fairly out of the semi-shelter of the point behind
which Hollis lay, Tunis and his two companions realized very quickly
just what they had to contend with. They had spread a handbreadth of
mainsail, but the jib was blown out of the boltropes by one big
swoop of wind and carried down to leeward, looking like a giant's
shirt.
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