15. A SORT OF A KIND OF A WRECK 



Instead of dying away towards evening the south- 

 easterly breeze blew steadily fresher, and along- 

 shore the lop rose higher. Those drifters which 

 had been anchored off since the previous night's 

 mackerel-fishing kicked to it at their moorings. 

 The sea was of a living blueness, flecked gaily 

 with white foam; so blue and so white that the 

 sky itself looked pale above. 



'Be us going, or hain't us? 'Cause if we be, 

 jump in !' And into the punt they jumped — 

 Benjie, who owns the drifter, together with Jim 

 and Richard, who work her for him. After Benjie 

 had brought the punt ashore again, and we had 

 hauled her up together, he remained with her cut- 

 rope still in his hand, seated on the shingle, gazing 

 rather anxiously out to sea. Opening his snuff- 

 box with the air of a man who has plenty of 

 waiting before him, he took a long strong pinch. 



141 



