ded straight for the Eddystone, she gradually began to feel the full
strength of the breeze, and her two occupants settled themselves down to
enjoy thoroughly a good long evening's sail, perhaps to be extended into
the small hours of the next morning, if the conditions continued
favourable. For there was nothing that these two more thoroughly
enjoyed than a good tussle, in a well-found boat, against a strong
breeze and a heavy sea; and they were like enough to have both to-night,
so soon as they cleared the Sound and reached open water. In fact,
although probably neither of them had thus far suspected it, both were
strongly imbued with the spirit of born adventurers.

An hour's sailing sufficed to carry them to seaward of Penlee Point,
when they found that there was just wind and sea enough to make for
perfect enjoyment, therefore instead of contenting themselves with a
mere sail round the Eddystone and back they determined to make a night
of it; and the sheets were accordingly hauled aft for a long stretch to
windward, close-hauled, towards the chops of the Channel.

Away sped the boat to the southward and westward, careening gunwale-to,
and sending the spray flying in such drenching showers over the weather
bow, that presently the water rose above the bottom boards and splashed
like a miniature sea in the lee bilge, compelling Dick to abandon the
mainsheet to Stukely while he took a bucket and proceeded to bale. But
the wind showed a disposition to freshen, careening the boat so steeply
that, despite Stukely's utmost care, the water began to slop in over the
lee gunwale, as well as over the bows; and at length they decided to
take a reef in the mainsail, for Dick had no fancy for spending the rest
of the cruise in an ineffectual endeavour to free the boat of water that
came in faster than he could throw it out. This was done, and the boat
resumed her headlong rush to the southward, until by the time that the
sun sank, red and angry, beneath the western wave, the land lay a mere
film of grey along the northern board.

Then occurred a thing common enough in the tropics but much less usual
in our more temperate climate; the wind suddenly dropped to a stark
calm, and then, a few minutes later, came away in a terrific squall from
about north-north-east.

So violent was the outfly that there was but one thing to do, namely, to
keep the boat away dead before it; and away went the lugger, still
heading to the southward