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prevent the craft burying. He had also single-reefed his mainsail and
foretopsail. The Sea Lion, of the Vineyard, imitated each movement, and
was brought down precisely to the same canvass as her consort, and on the
same tack. At that moment the two vessels were not a cable's length
asunder, the Oyster Ponders being slightly to leeward. Their schooner,
however, had a trifling advantage in sailing when it blew fresh and the
water was rough; which advantage was now making itself apparent, as the
two craft struggled ahead through the troubled element.
"I wish we were two hundred miles to the eastward," observed the young
master to his first officer, as soon as his eye had taken in the whole
view. "I am afraid we shall get jammed in on Cape Hatteras. That place is
always in the way with the wind at south-east and a vessel going to the
southward. We are likely to have a dirty time of it, Mr. Hazard."
"Ay, ay, sir, dirty enough," was the careless answer. "I've known them
that would go back and anchor in Fort Pond Bay, or even in Gardiner's,
until this south-easter had blown itself out."
"I couldn't think of that! We are a hundred miles south-east of Montauk,
and if I run the craft into any place, it shall be into Charleston, or
some of the islands along that coast. Besides, we can always ware off the
land, and place ourselves a day's run further to the southward, and we can
then give the shoals a wide berth on the other tack. If we were in the
bight of the coast between Long Island and Jersey, 't would be another
matter; but, out here, where we are, I should be ashamed to look the
deacon in the face if I didn't hold on."
"I only made the remark, Captain Gar'ner, by way of saying something. As
for getting to the southward, close in with our own coast, I don't know
that it will be of much use to a craft that wishes to stand so far to the
eastward, since the trades must be met well to windward, or they had
better not be met at all. For my part, I would as soon take my chance of
making a passage to the Cape de Verds or their neighbourhood, by lifting
my anchor from Gardiner's Bay, three days hence, as by meeting the next
shift of wind down south, off Charleston or Tybee."
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"We should be only five hundred miles to windward, in the latter case, did
the wind come from the south-west, again, as at this season of the year it
is very likely to do. But, it is of no consequence; men bound where we
have got to go, ought not to run into port every time the wind comes out
foul. You know as well as I do, Mr. Hazard, that away down south, yonder,
a fellow thinks a gale of wind is a relief, provided it brings clear water
with it. I would rather run a week among islands, than a single day among
icebergs. One knows where to find land, for that never moves; but your
mountains that float about, are here to-day, and there to-morrow."
"Quite true, sir," returned Hazard, "and men that take their lays in
sealers, are not to expect anything but squalls. I'm ready to hold on as
long as our neighbour yonder; he seems to be trimming down to it, as if in
raal earnest to get ahead."
This was true enough. The Sea Lion of the Vineyard was doing her best, all
this time; and though unable to keep her station on her consort's weather
bow, where she had been most of the morning, she was dropped so very
slowly as to render the change nearly imperceptible. Now, it was, that the
officers and crews of these two craft watched their "behaviour," as it is
technically termed, with the closest vigilance and deepest interest. Those
in the Oyster Pond vessel regarded the movements of their consort, much as
a belle in a ball-room observes the effect produced by the sister belles
around her; or a rival physician notes the progress of an operation, that
is to add new laurels, or to cause old ones to wither. Now, the lurch was
commented on; then, the pitch was thought to be too heavy; and Green was
soon of opinion that their competitor was not as easy on her spars as
their own schooner. In short, every comparison that experience, jealousy
or skill could suggest, was freely made; and somewhat as a matter of
course, in favour of their own vessel. That which was done on board the
Sea Lion of Oyster Pond, was very freely emulated by those on board her
namesake of the Vineyard. They made _their_ comparisons, and formed
_their_ conclusions, with the same deference to self-esteem, and the same
submission to hope, as had been apparent among their competitors. It would
seem to be a law of nature that men should thus flatter themselves, and
perceive the mote in the eye of their neighbour, while the beam in their
own escapes. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]