From the deck, as we sailed blithely along, I watched the billows
rolling landward and dashing upon the hard rocks, resounding with
thunderous noise among the hollow chasms. I was unwilling to go
below before we had passed beyond the sight of Stromness, but when
we were abreast of the Black Craigs I thought I would go down and
have a drop of hot coffee. I had no sooner got into the cabin,
however, when, what with the pitching of the schooner and the smell
of the cheese and bacon and other things, I began to feel a
sickening, so I went on deck again and busied myself as best I
could, though the skipper had told me he would not expect me to do
any work until I got my sea legs.
I soon fell into my simple duties, which were the more easy to me
since my acquaintance with ships and sailors in Stromness had given
me some slight knowledge of the routine work of a small craft.
Whenever the schooner was brought round on a new tack I was ready
to lend a hand with the ropes. I helped to keep trim the deck, and
even had the proud task of taking my trick at the tiller. When I
was well enough to venture below I had the duty of preparing the
meals, with the help of Jerry, who was man-of-all-work. But this
was not until we had been out some days.
On the first day I did little but hang about on deck, or sit on the
weather gunwale with Captain Flett.
Pages:
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230