bled up on deck again and hurried aft for the vessel's kedge had
been laid out astern to prevent her swinging. There was a heavy hemp
warp attached to it, and it cost them some time to heave most of it
over, after which they proceeded to get the mainsail on to her. It was
covered with a coat, and Wyllard cut himself as he slashed through the
tiers in savage impatience. Then he and the Siwash toiled at the
halliards desperately, for the task of raising the heavy gaff was almost
beyond their powers.

There was no grease on the mast-hoops; the blocks evidently had not been
used for months. Several times they desisted a moment or two, gasping,
breathless, and utterly exhausted. Still, foot by foot they got the
black canvas up, and then, leaving the peak hanging, ran forward to the
boom-foresail, which was smaller and lighter. They set that, cast two
jibs and the staysail loose, and let them lie. Wyllard sat down feeling
that the thing they had done would, if attempted in cold blood, have
appeared almost impossible. It was done, however, and now he must wait
until the boat appeared. There was no sign of her, and as he gazed up
the inlet, seeing only the glimmer of the water and the sliding mist,
the suspense became almost intolerable. Minute after minute slipped by,
and still nothing loomed out of the haze. The canvas rustled and banged
above him, there was a growing splashing beneath the bows, and the
schooner strained more heavily at her cable. Everything was ready, only
his comrades did not appear. He clenched his hands and set his lips as
he waited. He wondered at the Siwash, who sat upon the rail, a dim,
shapeless figure, impassively still.

At last his heart leaped, for a faint splash of oars came out of the
darkness. Both men ran forward to the windlass. The sharp clanking it
made drowned the splash of oars, but in another minute or two there was
a crash as the boat drove alongside, and Charly scrambled up with a rope
while Lewson hurled sundry bags and cases after him. Then he climbed on
deck in turn, and Charly began a breathless explanation.

"It's all we could get. There's nobody on our trail," he said.

The last fact was most important, and Wyllard cut him short. "Get the
jibs and staysail on to her," he commanded.

The new arrivals worked rapidly while the cable clanked and rattled as
the schooner drove astern, but at the first heave the rotten staysail
tore off the hanks, and one jib burst as they ran it up