avelling like lightning. It was just as though some mighty power
had set an Alpine district moving, and when a vessel soared over the
crown of a grey mountain she looked like a mere seabird. In the valleys
of this mad, winding mountain range the whistling hurricane raved and
whirled, and the drift that was plucked looked like smoke from some
hellish cauldron. And still the grizzled old skipper would go on, though
it was touch-and-go every time a sequence of strong seas came howling
down. The foresail went, and that was bad; but those fine seamen do not
ever come to the end of their resources so long as life lasts, and they
got ready to set another as soon as the wind showed the least sign of
fining off. The Esperanza tore onward, lunging violently, and shaking as
though she dreaded the grip of some savage pursuer. No wonder the seamen
speak of a vessel as if she had intelligence; there is something so
strangely vivid in the expression of a ship that it cannot be expressed
in words, and I shall not try.

At length Joe sang out, "I reckon that's the Galloper, skipper."

"Right you are, chap! And what's that by the edge of the broken water?
Wessel, I fancy."

"'Tis a barque, skipper, and he's got 'em flyin'."

The two men watched the vessel a long time, and they determined to run
down on her as near as might be safe. As they drew on her it appeared
that she was not actually hard-and-fast, but she was bumping apparently,
and they guessed she had her anchors out. There is nothing in the way of
close shaves that a smacksman will not venture, and the Esperanza was
soon within speaking distance.

"We have a pilot aboard!" sang out someone on deck.

"A lightning sort of pilot to ram her nose on the Galloper!" growled the
old skipper. "Do you want any assistance?"

"Stand by for a bit and we'll see."

So the Esperanza went to leeward of the shoal and hove-to. Presently the
stranger signalled, "Come on board of us."

Then Joe said, "That fellow's in a frap before his time, skipper. I
believe she'll come off when the tide turns. If she does, and we have
her in charge, that's a nice lump of money for all of us."

"But how are we going to get to him?"

"I'll go," said Joe. "Give me old Bill, and we'll take the boat down on
him. You get the trawl warp ready, and we'll either tow him or steer
him."

"Right, chap; over with your boat, lads!"

Then Bill lay down in the boat, Joe put an oar in the sculling-notch,
and the l