With All Despatch
“THE SPARK OF COURAGE THE brig Loyal Chieftain, drifting and rolling under close-reefed topsails, was a death-trap for any landsman or the unwary. In pitch-darkness she lay between two sturdy luggers while men from all three crews hauled on tackles, levered, and stowed an endless collection of cargo. In the brig’s forward hold, Allday marvelled at the speed of the transfer from the two luggers in spite of several stupid blunders. The brig carried twice her normal company, but most of them had ne...ver worked together before, and he had heard more kicks and obscenities than in any manof-war.
Each time he went on deck he looked hopefully towards the land. But there was no sign of it, not even a light to reveal how near or far it lay. He knew they were lying-to off the Dutch coast, somewhere near Flushing, but it might easily have been on the other side of the world.
His prowess as a seaman had soon been noted, and Allday had found himself thanking his Maker more than once that Delaval was not aboard.MoreLess
Each time he went on deck he looked hopefully towards the land. But there was no sign of it, not even a light to reveal how near or far it lay. He knew they were lying-to off the Dutch coast, somewhere near Flushing, but it might easily have been on the other side of the world.
His prowess as a seaman had soon been noted, and Allday had found himself thanking his Maker more than once that Delaval was not aboard.MoreLess
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