And how
does any port bear now?--tell me that, too. Suppose we did know, would
you try to take her into Gloucester harbor on a night like this?
Gloucester!"
"Sh-h! There's something," said the other voice.
The voices were hushed. Two long moans came over the sea.
"Wait for them again. And time 'em." The captain's voice that.
Mrs. Goles stepped closer to Jan. "Does it mean there's danger to the
ship?" she asked in a low voice in Jan's ear.
"No, no. But listen!"
One long moan and one short moan came fitfully over the sea.
"Thatcher's Island steam-whistle," said the captain's voice. "An'
bearing so." So thick was the night with snow that Jan had to strain his
sight to make out the mittened hand and coatsleeve stretching out
through the window over his head.
Jan felt the wind whipping him on the other side, and with that there
came from the pilot-house: "Well, if that ain't the devil's own luck!
Here's the wind makin' into the north-west and the chief whistlin' up
half-steam's all he can keep on her!"
"Ain't it always something wrong! I told 'em about them boilers--that
they been leakin' right along. What will we do?"
"Only one thing to do now. Run her before it. Besides, she'll be blown
offshore soon now. Run her across the bay. South-south-east. She ought
to fetch Provincetown."
"Yes, sir. But when we get out from under the lee of the land what'll
happen?"
"I don't know; but I do know what'll happen to her bumpin' over the
rocks of this shore on a night like this!"
Jan touched Mrs.
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