... Didn't he know
them! Didn't he! In past years. Better men, too. Real men to stand by
one in a tight place. Worse than devils too sometimes--downright, horned
devils. Pah! This--. nothing. A miss as good as a mile.... The wheel was
being relieved in the usual way.--"Full and by," said, very loud, the
man going off.--"Full and by," repeated the other, catching hold of the
spokes.--"This head wind is my trouble," exclaimed the master, stamping
his foot in sudden anger; "head wind! all the rest is nothing." He was
calm again in a moment. "Keep them on the move to-night, gentlemen; just
to let them feel we've got hold all the time--quietly, you know. Mind
you keep your hands off them, Creighton. To-morrow I will talk to them
like a Dutch Uncle. A crazy crowd of tinkers! Yes, tinkers! I could
count the real sailors amongst them on the fingers of one hand. Nothing
will do but a row--if--you--please." He paused. "Did you think I had
gone wrong there, Mr. Baker?" He tapped his forehead, laughed short.
"When I saw him standing there, three parts dead and so scared--black
amongst that gaping lot--no grit to face what's coming to us all--the
notion came to me all at once, before I could think.
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