The Wild-Fowlers 103 



showed itself plainly and calmed them 

 down. It would n't do to make the old 

 skipper real angry, Bradley argued in an 

 undertone, and the two good spirits, who 

 could n't for the life of them go to sleep, 

 reduced the pitch of their voices and 

 rattled off short speeches on half a hun- 

 dred subjects. 



But Seth could n't resist the tempta- 

 tion to jest. The hour and conditions 

 prevailed upon him. 



:< Mighty dangerous this lying out here 

 in deep, open water in a sloop without 

 any sort of outside light aboard," said he 

 to Bradley, not long after his friend's 

 quieting word; 4< and what a wind is 

 springing up ! A nor'wester strong enough 

 to lift us up and clean over the outer 

 bar!" 



" Think so?" quoth Bradley. 



"Undoubtedly," answered Seth; "it 

 would soon carry us out to sea if our 

 anchor chain gave way and an outlet 

 were hard by. We 're drifting now and 



