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reefs in first； the wind is getting up。〃
In five minutes the sail was hoisted； and with Vincent at the helm
and Dan sitting up to windward； was dashing through tile water。
Although Vincent understood the management of a sailing…boat on
the calm waters of the rivers； this was his first experience of
sea…sailing； and although the waves were still but small； he felt at
first somewhat nervous as the boat dashed through them； sending
up at times a sheet of spray from her bows。 But he soon got over
this sensation； and enjoyed the lively motion and the fresh wind。
Tile higher points of the laud were still visible； but even had they
not been so it would have mattered little； as be had taken the
precaution to bring with him a small pocket…compass。 The wind
was from tile southwest；； and he was therefore able； with the sheet
hauled in； to make for a point where he judged the mouth of the
York River lay。
〃Golly； massa！ how do boat do jump up and down。〃
〃She is lively； Dan； and it would be just as well if we had some
ballast on board； however； she has a good beam and walks along
splendidly。 If the wind keeps as it is； we shall be back at the
mouth of the York in three or four hours。 You 'nay as well open
that basket again and hand me that； cold chicken and a piece of
bread； cut the meat off the bones and put it on the bread； for I have
only one hand disengaged； and hand me that bottle of cold tea。
That's right。 Now you had better take something your…self。 You
must be hungry。 We forgot all about the basket in our interest in
the ship。〃
Dan shook his head。
〃A little while ago； massa； me seem berry hungry； now me doesn't
feel hungry at all。〃
〃That's bad； Dan。 I am afraid you are going to be seasick。〃
Me no feel seasick； massa； only me don't feel hungry。〃 But in a
few minutes Dan was forced to confess that； lie did feel ill； and a
few moments afterward was groaning in the agonies of
seasickness。
〃Never mind； Dan；〃 Vincent said cheerfully。 〃You will be better
after this。〃
〃Me not seasick； massa； de sea have nuffin to do with it；。 It's de
boat dat will jump up and down instead of going quiet。〃
〃It's all the same thing； Dan； and I hope she won't jump about more
before we get into the river。〃
But； in another half hour Vincent had to bring the boat's head up to
the wind； lower the lug； and tie down the last； reef。
〃There； she goes easier now； Dan；〃 he said； as the boat resumed
her course； but Dan； who was leaning helplessly over the side of
the boat； could see no difference。
Vincent； however； felt that； under her close sail the boat was doing
better； and rising more easily on the waves； which were now
higher and farther apart than before。 In another hour the whole of
the shore…line was visible； but the wind had risen so much that；
even under her reduced sail； the boat had as much as she could
carry； and often heeled over until her gunwale was nearly under
water。 Another hour and the shore was but some four miles away；
but Vincent felt； he could no longer hold on。
In the hands of an experienced sailor； who would have humored
the boat and eased her up a little to meet the seas； the entrance to
the York River could no doubt； have been reached with safety； but
Vincent was ignorant of the art of sailing a boat in the sea； and she
was shipping water heavily。 Dan had for some time been bailing；
having only undertaken the work in obedience to Vincent's angry
orders； being too ill to care much what became of them。
〃Now； Dan； I am going to bring her head up to the wind； so get
ready to throw off that halyard and gather in the sail as it； comes
down。 That's right； man； now down with the mast；。〃
Vincent had read that； the best； plan when caught in an open boat
in a gale； was to tie the oars and mast； if she had one； together； and
to throw them overboard with the head rope tied to them； as by
that means the boat would ride head to sea。 The oars； sculls； mast；
and sail were firmly tied together and launched overboard； the
rope being first taken off the anchor and tied round the middle of
the clump of spars。
Vincent carefully played out the rope till some fifteen yards were
over； then he fastened it to the ring of the head rope； and had the
satisfaction of finding that the boat rode easily to the floating
anchor； rising lightly over the waves； and not shipping a drop of
water。 He then took the baler and got rid of the water that had
found its way on board； Dan； after getting down the sail； having
collapsed utterly。
〃Now； Dan； sit up； there； man； the motion is much easier now； and
we are taking no water on board。 I will give you a glass of rum；
that will put new strength into you。 It's lucky we put it in the
basket in ease of emergency。〃
The negro； whose teeth were chattering from cold； fright； and
exhaustion； eagerly drank off the spirit。 Vincent； who was wet to
the skin with the spray； took a little himself； and then settled
himself as comfortably as he could on the floor…hoards in the stern
of the boat； and quietly thought out the position。 The wind was
still rising； and a thick haze obscured the land。 He had no doubt
that by night it would be blowing a gale； but the boat rode so easily
and lightly that he believed she would get through it。
They might； it was true； he blown many miles off the shore； and
not be able to get back for some time； for the gale might last two
or three days。 The basket of provisions was； however； a large one。
Dan had received orders to bring plenty and had obeyed them
literally； and Vincent saw that the supply of food； if carefully
husbanded； would last； without difficulty for a week。 The supply
of liquor was less satisfactory。 There was the bottle of rum； two
bottles of claret； and a two…gallon jar； nearly half empty； of water。
The cold tea was finished。
〃That would be a poor supply for a week for two of us；〃 Vincent；
muttered； as he removed the contents of the basket and stored
them carefully in the locker； 〃however； if it's going to be a gale
there is sure to be some rain with it； so 1 think we shall manage
very well。〃
By night it was blowing really heavily； but although the waves
were high the boat shipped but little water。 Dan had fallen off to
sleep； and Vincent had been glad to wrap himself in the thick coat
he had brought with him as a protection against the heavy dews
when sleeping on the river。 At； times sharp rain squalls burst upon
them； and Vincent had no difficulty in filling up the water…bottle
again with the baler。
The water was rather brackish； but nor sufficiently so to be of
consequence。 All night the heat was tossed heavily on the waves。
Vincent dozed off at times； rousing himself occasionally and
baling out the water； which came in the shape of spray and rain。
The prospect； in the morning was not cheering。 Gray clouds
covered the sky and seemed to come down