elp us to make sail. But the weather
looking somewhat wild in the west with the red light of the sun among
the clouds there, and the dark heave of the swell running into a sickly
crimson under the sun and then glowing out dusky again, I got them to
treble-reef the mainsail and hoist it, and then thanking them, advised
them to be off. Then, putting Cromwell to the tiller, I went forward
with the others and set the topsail and forestaysail (the spritsail
lying furled), which would be show enough of canvas till I saw what the
weather was to be like. I kept the topsail aback, waiting for a boat to
arrive with my chart, and in a few minutes the boat we had cheered
returned with what I wanted.

Meanwhile they were shortening sail on the whaler, and though she was no
beauty, yet, I tell you, I found her as picturesque as any ship I had
ever beheld as she lay with her main-topgallant-sail clewed up, her
topsail yards on the caps, and the heads of men knotting the reef-points
showing black over the white cloths, her hull floating up out of the
hollow and flinging a wet orange gleam to the west, a tumble of creamy
foam about her to her rolling, shadows like the passage of phantom hands
hurrying over her sails to the swaying of her masts, and the swelling
sea darkling from her into the east.

I hollowed my hands, and, hailing the captain, who was on the
quarter-deck, asked him for the time by his chronometer. He flourished
his arm and disappeared and, presently returning, shouted to know if I
was ready. I put the key in my watch and answered yes, and then he gave
me the time. My watch, though antique, was a noble piece of mechanism,
and I have little doubt, as trustworthy as his chronometer. But I was
careful to let it lie snug in my hand. I did not want the negro at the
tiller nor the others to see it. They would wonder that so fine a
jewelled piece as this should be in the possession of the second mate of
a little brig, and it was my business to manage that they never should
have cause to wonder at anything in that way.

The dusk of the evening came quick out of the east, and the wind
freshened with a long cry in our rigging as if the eastern darkness was
a foe it was rushing out of the west to meet. I brought the schooner
north-north-east by my compass and watched her behaviour anxiously. The
swell was on the quarter, and the wind and sea a trifle abaft the
larboard beam; she leaned a little to the weight of her clothes, but