The Ghost Ship | Page 9

or were we going
ahead of her?"
"She was running before the wind, sir, at a tangent to our course, and
more to the southwards, moving through the water quicker than we
were, until she luffed up just before that mist or fog bank shut her out
from view. But--"
"Well?"
"I think, sir," I continued, "that was done merely to speak us; and if she
bore away again, as she was probably forced to do, being at the mercy
of the gale, she must be scudding even more to the southwards, almost
due south, I should fancy, as the wind has backed again more to the
nor'ard since this."

"I fancy the same, my boy. I see you have a sailor's eye and have got
your wits about you. Quartermaster?"
"Aye, aye, sir?"
"Let her off a point or two gradually until you bring her head about
sou'-sou'-west, and keep her so."
"Aye, aye, sir," responded Atkins, easing her off as required. "Sou'-
sou'-west it shall be, sir, in a minute."
"That will bring us across her, I think," said the skipper to me. "But we
must go a little faster if we want to overtake her. What are we doing
now, eh?"
"I don't quite know, sir," I answered to this question. "I was only just
coming up on the bridge to relieve Mr Spokeshave when I sighted the
ship and have not had time to look at the indicator. I should think,
though, we're going eight or nine knots."
This didn't satisfy the skipper, so he turned to the first mate, who had
remained moodily aloof with Spokeshave at the end of the bridge.
"Mr Fosset," he sang out abruptly, "what are the engines doing?"
"About thirty revolutions, sir; half speed, as nearly as possible."
"How much are we going altogether?"
"Ten knots, with our sails," replied the other. "The wind is freshening,
too."
"So I see," said Captain Applegarth laconically.
"And it'll freshen still more by-and-bye if I'm not mistaken!"
"Yes, it looks as if we're going to have a bit of a blow. The scud is
flying all over us now that we are running before the wind. I really
think we ought to ease down, sir, for the screw races fearfully as she

dips and I'm afraid of the shaft."
"I'm responsible for that, Mr Fosset," answered the skipper as, moving
the handle of the gong on the bridge communicating with the
engine-room, he directed those in charge below to put on full speed
ahead. "I never yet abandoned a ship in distress, and I'm not going to
do so now. We're on the right course to overhaul her, now, I think, eh,
Haldane?"
"Yes, sir," I replied. "I hope, though, we won't pass her in the fog, sir,
or run into her, perhaps."
"No fear of that, my boy: The fog is lifting now and the night will soon
be as clear as a bell, for the wind is driving all the mists away. Besides,
we'll take precautions against any accident happening. Mr Fosset?"
"Aye, aye, sir?"
"Put a couple of lookouts on the fo'c's'le."
"Aye, aye, sir."
"Perhaps, too, we'd better send up a rocket to let 'em know we're about.
Mr Spokeshave? Mr Spokeshave?"
No answer came this time, however, from my friend, Master "Conky,"
though he had been ready enough just now with his aggravating "quite
so."
"I think, sir," said I, "Mr Spokeshave has gone below to his tea."
"Very likely," replied the skipper drily; "he's precious fond of his
breadbasket, that young gentleman. I don't think he'll ever starve where
there's any grub knocking about. Fancy a fellow, calling himself a man,
thinking of his belly at such a moment! Go, Haldane, and call him up
again and tell him I want him."
I started to obey Captain Applegarth's order, but I had hardly got three
steps down the ladder when Spokeshave saved me further trouble by

coming up on the bridge again of his own accord, without waiting to be
summoned.
The skipper, therefore, gave him instructions to let off, every quarter of
an hour, a couple of signal rockets and burn a blue light or two over our
port and starboard quarter alternately as we proceeded towards the
object of our quest.
"All right, sir; quite so!" said "Conky," as well as he could articulate,
his mouth being full of something he had hurriedly snatched from the
steward's pantry when he had gone below, and brought up with him to
eat on deck, knowing that the skipper would be sure to sing out for him
if he remained long away at so critical a juncture. "All right, sir; quite
so!"
The skipper laughed as he went down again to get the rockets and blue
lights which were kept in