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Chapter 13
Riachtogoaloft,andhesattherelookingoutandhailingthedeckwithnewsofallhesaw.
“Theseatothesouthisthick,”hecried;andthen,afterawhile,“itdoesseemclearerinbytheland.”
“Well,sir,”saidHoseasontoAlan,“we’lltryyourwayofit.ButIthinkImightaswelltrusttoablindfiddler.PrayGodyou’reright.”
“PrayGodIam!”saysAlantome.“ButwheredidIhearit?Well,well,itwillbeasitmust.”
Aswegotnearertotheturnofthelandthereefsbegantobesownhereandthereonourverypath;andMr.Riachsometimescrieddowntoustochangethecourse.Sometimes,indeed,nonetoosoon;foronereefwassocloseonthebrig’sweatherboardthatwhenaseaburstuponitthelighterspraysfelluponherdeckandwetteduslikerain.
Thebrightnessofthenightshowedustheseperilsasclearlyasbyday,whichwas,perhaps,themorealarming.Itshowedme,too,thefaceofthecaptainashestoodbythesteersman,nowononefoot,nowontheother,andsometimesblowinginhishands,butstilllisteningandlookingandassteadyassteel.NeitherhenorMr.Riachhadshownwellinthefighting;butIsawtheywerebraveintheirowntrade,andadmiredthemallthemorebecauseIfoundAlanverywhite.
“Ochone,David,”sayshe,“thisisnothekindofdeathIfancy!”
“What,Alan!”Icried,“you’renotafraid?”
“No,”saidhe,wettinghislips,“butyou’llallow,yourself,it’sacoldending.
