ion.

"Good morning, Mr Roberts," I exclaimed genially. "So you were unable
to overtake the flyer yonder, after all."

"Good morning, sir," he responded with equal geniality. "(Now then, you
sodgers, stand clear of the hose if you don't want a ducking. Serve you
right, Tom; you'll take warning, perhaps, the next time I give it you.)
The flyer, sir? Oh, you mean the yacht. Well, of course, they have the
pull of us in light weather, such as we've had through the night; but
I'll bet my hat that neither yonder schooner nor e'er a yacht that now
happens to be away there inside the island could look at us in a good,
honest to'gallant breeze. You wait a bit, sir; the little hooker hasn't
had a chance yet to show what she can do. But there's a breeze coming
by-and-by, if I'm any judge of that sky away there to the east'ard; and
then, after we've touched at Weymouth and hauled out again into the wake
of that fleet astarn of us, you'll have a chance to judge of the
_Esmeralda's_ paces when she lays herself out to travel. Now, boys, lay
aft here with your squeegees, and give this poop a drying down!"

It was a glorious morning; the sun, already well above the horizon, just
taking the keen edge off the air, and rendering the pure easterly breeze
soft and balmy without depriving it of any of its bracing and
exhilarating qualities; the sky a magnificent, deep, pure blue overhead,
softening down in tint to warm tender tones of grey as the eye travelled
from the zenith, horizon-ward. Cloud, properly speaking, there was
none, save a few faint streaks here and there of the kind known as
"mares' tails"; but away to the northward and eastward the sky at the
horizon, although it was of a clear pale primrose hue, had that peculiar
indescribable "hardness" of tint that, to the experienced eye, is the
sure forerunner of a good wholesome breeze. That breeze, however, was
yet to come; the wind at the moment being very paltry--little more than
sufficient, indeed, to keep the heavier canvas "asleep," and to send the
barque along at a speed of about five knots. The water was perfectly
smooth, save of course for the ripple caused by the light breeze; but,
so far as swell was concerned, there was absolutely none, the ship
neither pitching nor rolling perceptibly.

In due course my passengers made their appearance on deck, in high glee
at the favourable condition of the weather, and full of compliments as
to the comfort of the sleeping ca