Морський вовк

Chapter 39

           Shecouldnotbutknowitassheswiftlydrewawayherhands,andyet,couldnotforbearonequicksearchinglookbeforesheturnedawayhereyes.

           Bymeansofdeck-tacklesIhadarrangedtocarrythehalyardsforwardtothewindlass;andnowIhoistedthemainsail,peakandthroat,atthesametime.Itwasaclumsyway,butitdidnottakelong,andsoontheforesailaswellwasupandfluttering.

           "Wecannevergetthatanchorupinthisnarrowplace,onceithasleftthebottom,"Isaid."Weshouldbeontherocksfirst."

           "Whatcanyoudo?"sheasked.

           "Slipit,"wasmyanswer."AndwhenIdo,youmustdoyourfirstworkonthewindlass.Ishallhavetorunatoncetothewheel,andatthesametimeyoumustbehoistingthejib."

           ThismanoeuvreofgettingunderwayIhadstudiedandworkedoutascoreoftimes;and,withthejib-halyardtothewindlass,IknewMaudwascapableofhoistingthatmostnecessarysail.Abriskwindwasblowingintothecove,andthoughthewaterwascalm,rapidworkwasrequiredtogetussafelyout.

           WhenIknockedtheshackle-boltloose,thechainroaredoutthroughthehawse-holeandintothesea.Iracedaft,puttingthewheelup.TheGhostseemedtostartintolifeassheheeledtothefirstfillofhersails.Thejibwasrising.Asitfilled,theGhost’sbowswungoffandIhadtoputthewheeldownafewspokesandsteadyher.

           Ihaddevisedanautomaticjib-sheetwhichpassedthejibacrossofitself,sotherewasnoneedforMaudtoattendtothat;butshewasstillhoistingthejibwhenIputthewheelharddown.

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