An anxious look-out had been kept up all through those early hours on
board both schooner and boat, for during the long delay caused by the
accident, it seemed highly probable that as the gunboat did not come in
sight she must have passed them in the darkness, gone on, and hence
might at any moment come into view.
A man was sent up to the cross-trees, and a sharp look-out was kept up
as well from the deck for the missing crew who were got safely on board,
and the schooner sailed away towards the south and west, and still with
no danger in sight.
"You've given me a bad night, young fellows," said the skipper, as he
stood looking on at the lads enjoying their morning meal, one over which
the Camel seemed to have taken extra pains, showing his large front
teeth with a smile of satisfaction as he brought it in relays of
newly-made hot cakes, before retiring to slip fresh slices of bacon in
the pan.
"Yes, father," said Poole; "but see what a night we had!"
"Ah, but yours was merely physical, my boy; mine was mental."
"I thought ours was both; eh, Burnett?" said Poole, laughing.
"Oh, yes, it was," cried the middy. "You don't know what a night we
had, Captain Reed."
"Well, I suppose you did not have a very pleasant time, my lads.--Oh,
here's Mr Burgess. Well, they don't seem much the worse for it, do
they? Nothing in sight?"
"No, nothing. I don't think she could have followed us out. Have you
any more to say to me about the course?"
"No," said the skipper. "I think we pretty well understand about the
bearings as given in the letter. The Don put it all down pretty
clearly, and in very decent English too."
Fitz looked up sharply, for the mention of the letter brought to mind
the light fishing-boat with the bird-wing-like lateen sail and the
rapidity with which the bearer of the despatch delivered it to the
skipper and went overboard again.