Pagina 346 di 416

In the midst of all this Code Schofield struggled aft and began

hauling forth the mains'l that at the first edge of the Bank had

been relegated in favor of the triangular riding sail.

Pete Ellinwood saw him, and in a great voice bawled down the

hatchway to the fo'c's'le.

"Salt's wet, boys; the skipper's haulin' out the mains'l!" At

which there broke forth the most extravagant sounds of jubilation

and all hands tumbled up to help bend it on.

The crew of the Lass did not know it, but Bijonah Tanner and the

Rosan had actually been gone twelve hours, having stolen away

from the fleet before dressing down the night before when

darkness had fallen. And so successfully had Jed Martin stolen

Bijonah's thunder that he had left but three hours later--when

the fish had been dressed.