86 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



well and coach-roof, while M. was busily engaged in 

 shortening the cable. 



" The captain of yonder bawley," said the latter, as 

 he pointed in the direction of a small fishing smack, 

 which had just entered the creek, " tells me he sighted a 

 big company of duck while passing the Mouse lightship. 

 If you'll help Gilson with the mainsail, I'll get the anchor 

 in board." I looked at the halliards, which were thickly 

 coated with ice and, to hide my distress, asked, as cheer- 

 fully as circumstances would allow, whether there was 

 sufficient water in the creek to float the yawl out that 

 tide. 



" Yes, if you will but hoist the mainsail instead of 

 playing the fool," replied Jack, who bore the cold in the 

 most unconcerned manner, I thought. 



With purple, aching fingers I commenced to unstop 

 the mainsail. Next I hauled on the peak and the skipper 

 on the throat-halliards, and together we managed to set 

 the big sail. " Ease your main sheet and shave the 

 floating beacon ! " roared M., as the anchor came up 

 with a run. More than once the keel of the Seamew 

 touched ground, but at length she was safely in the deeper 

 fairway of the Swale, and, with sheets flattened and 

 lee-rail awash, the staunch little vessel began to fight 

 her way seaward against a stiff nor'-easterly wind. 



Leaving Jack and the skipper to sail the ship, I went 

 below to cook a goodly dish of ham and eggs for break- 

 fast. Old Gilson had signed on as skipper and cook ; 

 he did not, however, shine brilliantly in the latter 



