Морской волк

Chapter 19

           StilltheGhosttorealong,tilltheboatdwindledtoaspeck,whenWolfLarsen’svoicerangoutincommandandhewentaboutonthestarboardtack.

           Backweheld,twomilesandmoretowindwardofthestrugglingcockle-shell,whentheflyingjibwasrundownandtheschoonerhoveto.Thesealingboatsarenotmadeforwindwardwork.Theirhopeliesinkeepingaweatherpositionsothattheymayrunbeforethewindfortheschoonerwhenitbreezesup.ButinallthatwildwastetherewasnorefugeforLeachandJohnsonsaveontheGhost,andtheyresolutelybeganthewindwardbeat.Itwasslowworkintheheavyseathatwasrunning.Atanymomenttheywereliabletobeoverwhelmedbythehissingcombers.Timeandagainandcountlesstimeswewatchedtheboatluffintothebigwhitecaps,loseheadway,andbeflungbacklikeacork.

           Johnsonwasasplendidseaman,andheknewasmuchaboutsmallboatsashedidaboutships.Attheendofanhourandahalfhewasnearlyalongside,standingpastoursternonthelastlegout,aimingtofetchusonthenextlegback.

           "Soyou’vechangedyourmind?"IheardWolfLarsenmutter,halftohimself,halftothemasthoughtheycouldhear."Youwanttocomeaboard,eh?Well,then,justkeepa-coming."

           "Hardupwiththathelm!"hecommandedOofty–Oofty,theKanaka,whohadinthemeantimerelievedLouisatthewheel.

           Commandfollowedcommand.Astheschoonerpaidoff,theforeandmain-sheetswereslackedawayforfairwind.

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