its stay. For an
anxious moment or two the cable jammed, and the anchor brought the
schooner up. All four flung themselves upon the windlass levers, and
after a furious effort the chain came up again and ran out faster,
fathom by fathom, rattling horribly, until the end of it shot suddenly
over the windlass. Then there was another check as the schooner brought
up by the kedge swung suddenly across the stream.

Her banging canvas filled, she listed over, and it was evident to all of
them that if the kedge started she would forthwith drive ashore. Tense
with strain, its warp ripped out of the water, and she was swinging on
it heading for the beach when Wyllard flung himself upon the wheel.

"Hang on to every inch or break it!" he roared. "Out main-boom; box your
jib and staysail up to weather!"

In desperate haste they obeyed orders, amid a great clatter of blocks
and thrashing of canvas, while Wyllard wrenched up his helm, and the
schooner, straining on the warp, fell away with her bows down-stream.
The sweat of effort dripped from Wyllard when he swung up an arm to
Lewson, who was standing at the bollard to which the warp was made fast.

"Now!" he cried hoarsely, "let her go!"

The rope fell with a splash, the schooner lurched forward and drove away
down the inlet with the stream running seaward under her, while Wyllard
felt a trifle dazed from sheer revulsion of feeling. The rumble of the
surf was growing louder; the deck slanted slightly beneath him. If they
could keep her off the beach for the next few minutes there was freedom
before them! He hazarded a glance astern, but could see no sign of a
boat up the inlet. They had done a thing which even then appeared almost
incredible.

The breeze came down fresher, the gurgle at the bows grew louder, and
the deck began to heave with a slow and regular rise and fall. A long,
shadowy point girt about with spectral surf slipped by, and they were
out in open water. They ran the schooner out for an hour or two and
then, though the peak of the mainsail burst to tatters as they hauled
her on a wind, let her stretch away northward following the trend of
coast.

"We'll stand on as she's lying until we find a creek or river mouth. We
must have water," Wyllard said.

An hour later he called Charly to the wheel, and sitting down in the
shelter of the rail, went to sleep, though this was about the last thing
he had contemplated doing. It was gray dawn when he opened his eyes