The log was then hove again, and a couple more knots of way somewhat
pleased the captain; but, a moment afterwards, seeing that the hands
were out of work once more, he thought of a fresh task for them.

"Mr Marline," he sang out presently, as he paced up and down the poop,
eyeing the spars aloft and then casting his eyes forward.

"Aye, aye, sir," was the prompt answer from the chief mate, who was
standing by the taffrail behind the man at the wheel, looking aloft to
see how the sails drew and then glancing round the ship occasionally, in
a similar sailor-like way to the captain.

"What say you to getting the anchors aboard and unshackling the cables,
eh? I don't think we shall want to use them again now before we get
into soundings, and she seems a little down by the head."

"All right, sir," said the mate. "I'll go forwards and see to the job
at once. Here, you idlers," he added as he descended the poop-ladder,
"spring up there on the fo'c's'le and see about getting the anchors
inboard!"

This operation, I may explain, is generally undertaken soon after a ship
leaves harbour and clears the channel when outwards bound across seas;
for, not only do the anchors interfere with the vessel's sailing trim
from their dead weight hanging over the bows, even when properly catted
and fished, but they are a great deal in the way. In addition to this,
the ship is liable to take in water through the hawse-holes, which can
be plugged up, of course, when the cable chains are unshackled, although
not before. As we had been, however, up to this time navigating the
narrow passages between the clustering islands of the Caribbean Sea and
the dangerous reefs in their vicinity, where we might have had occasion
possibly to anchor at any moment should the wind fail us and the cross
currents near the land peril the safety of the ship, the anchors had
been left still ready for instant service; but, now that we were in the
open sea, we would have no necessity for having recourse to their aid
until we fetched our home port, so they might just as well be stowed
away till then.

"May I go, too, and see what they are doing, Captain Miles?" I asked as
Mr Marline and the crew scampered forwards.

"Yes, my boy," he said kindly. "Only, mind you don't get into any
danger! I promised your father, you know, to look after you."

"Oh, I'll take care," I replied with a joyous laugh at getting the
permission; and, away I followed the others t