10 



High Noon on the High Seas 



^American IT) 



BRING HER head to the wind, Mr. Pritchard," a gruff voice 

 roared from the darkness forward, and was instantly whisked 

 away by the howling wind. 



"Aye, aye, sir," came a reply from the boatswain back aft. 



For a few moments nothing seemed to happen in the pitch dark- 

 ness that enshrouded the tiny, open vessel, while the wind howled 

 in the scant rigging aloft, and the waves came in ceaseless batteries 

 against the low rail, sending jets of spray that felt like fair-sized 

 gravel across the thwarts. Then the boatswain's voice broke through 

 the uproar of the sea and the blackness of the night once more. 



"Standing by the sheet, sir." 



"Break out oars forward!" yelled the mate. Then, turning aft 

 again and cupping his hands to his mouth, he deliberately counted 

 ten before shouting with all his might, "Hard a'lee, Mr. Garvey!" 



The little vessel answered immediately as if she had been seized 

 by her keel in some gargantuan grip, and spray came flying down 

 the length of her, smacking against the sails and drenching her belly. 



