.
By the mercy of God not a child was blown off the yards in that
operation; yet it was no sooner concluded than, having by this time
found a megaphone, he shouted up to them to undo their work and shake
out the reef.

"'That's madness!' I yelled from the wheel, where I clung dripping,
blindly pressing down the spokes and easing them as he checked me.
'Look to leeward, you blighter!' he yelled back.

"The ship had payed off slowly, and while she gathered way, was
drifting straight down upon an Italian barque that two hours ago had
lain more than a cable's length from us. . . . I thought our lower
yard--we heeled so--would have smacked against her bowsprit-end; and
from the outcries on board the Italian I rather fancy her crew
expected it. But we shaved her by a yard or so, as Link pushed me
away from the wheel and took charge. A moment later she had dropped
behind us into the night, and we were surging in full-tilt for
Plymouth, heaving over at the Lord knows what angle.

"But we were off; we were clear; and, strange to say, the worst of it
was over. The wind was worsening, if anything, and we continued to
drive at a frightful angle. Now and again we slanted to a squall
that fairly dipped us till the sea poured half-way across her decks.
As I staggered forward--clutching at anything handy--to assure myself
that none of the boys had been flung off the fore-yard and overboard,
I heard a sea burst the starboard bulwarks, and in another moment,
while I yet wondered if the sound came from something parting aloft,
with a 'Wa-ay-oh!' Link had put over her helm, and the suddenly
altered slant flung me into the scuppers, where I dropped after
taking a knock against the standing rigging, the mark of which I
shall carry on my forehead till I die.

"By this time, sir, I was pretty well dazed. I forget if it was in a
couple of short tacks, or in three, that we fetched Picklecombe Point
on the western side. Then we put about on a long tack that carried
us well outside the breakwater and came in for Cawsand Bay and
safety. On this last fetch Link kicked me up and gave me the wheel
again, while he went forward to hunt up the spare anchor.

"We brought up, well in shelter, at something before two in the
morning, not a hand lost. Before anyone was allowed to turn in, Link
had every sail stowed and covered--'for the honour of the blasted
ship,' as he put it.

"The skipper and his precious lot came aboard next day not long