ip with the whole string of boats in
tow. It took us a full half-hour to accomplish the distance between the
ship and the spot where the boats had been moored, and during the whole
of that time Gurney and Saunders kept their eyes intently fixed upon the
settlement, while I steered; but the place remained wrapped in darkness,
and nothing occurred to occasion us the least alarm.

During our stealthy passage across the basin we discussed in low tones
the important question of the boats; and it was ultimately settled that
we would take two of the four gigs, and at least make an effort to hoist
in the longboat, the other two gigs and the jollyboat to be cast adrift
and allowed to drive ashore as soon as we were ready to pass out through
the reef. Accordingly, as soon as we had arrived alongside the ship,
and Grace Hartley and her box had been safely passed up the side, all
the boats were veered astern, the longboat and the best two of the gigs
each by her own painter, while the other two gigs and the jollyboat were
secured together in a string, one astern of the other, so that by
casting off one painter all three of the boats would be released at the
same instant, while, being lashed together, they would all go ashore at
the same spot.

By the time these arrangements were carried out the hour of midnight had
arrived. The moon--or what there was left of her--was not due to rise
until an hour and twenty minutes later; but by the time that we had got
the two gigs hooked on, and the tackles hauled hand-taut--which was as
much as we intended to do with them before getting clear of the basin--
we had come to the conclusion that the stars afforded us light enough to
see by, and we therefore determined to proceed at once with the task of
setting the canvas. I was more anxious over this part of our job than
any other, for it was no light task for four people--one of whom was a
slender slip of a girl--to sheet home and hoist the fore and main
topsails of an eight-hundred-ton ship. It would be rather a lengthy
business, and somewhat noisy at that; for on a quiet night the rasping
of the chain sheets through the sheeve-holes might be heard at a
considerable distance, far enough, indeed, to attract the attention of
any sleepless individual in the settlement. Moreover, the inside of the
Basin was a particularly quiet spot, being under the lee of the Heads,
and thus sheltered to a considerable extent from the sweep of the wind.
True