صفحة 352 من 416

"Pass the life-lines, Pete," ordered Code, and all hands passed

stout ropes from rigging to house to rail, forward and astern, so

that there might be something to leap for when the Lass was

boarded by a Niagara.

Ellinwood got out two stout lines and made one fast around Code's

waist, leading it to the starboard bitt. The other fastened

Jimmie to the port bitt, so that if they were washed overboard

they might be hauled back to safety and life again.

"Looks like she was blowin' up a little!" remarked Pete later in

the day as the Lass rolled down to her sheerpoles in a sudden

rain squall. "Better take in them tops'ls, hadn't ye, skipper?"

"Take in nothing!" snapped Code across the cabin table. "Any

canvas that comes off this vessel between here and Freekirk Head

blows off, unless we have passed all those schooners ahead of us.

Haven't raised any of 'em, have you?"