Tom Virtue did not go below when his friend came up to relieve him at the change of watch, but sat smoking and doing much talking in the short intervals between the gusts.
The morning broke gray and misty, driving sleet came along on the wind, and the horizon was closed in as by a dull curtain.
"How far can we see, do you think, Watkins ?" "Perhaps a couple of miles, sir." "That will be enough.

I think we both know the position of every reef to within a hundred yards, so we will shape our course for Guernsey.

If we happen to hit it off, we can hold on to St.Helier, but if when we think we ought to be within sight of Guernsey we see nothing of it, we must lie to again, till the storm has blown itself out or the clouds lift.
It would never do to go groping our way along with such currents as run among the islands.

Put the last reef in the trysail before you hoist it.
I think you had better get the foresail down altogether, and run up the spitfire jib." The Seabird was soon under way again.
"Now, Watkins, you take the helm; we will go down and have a cup of hot coffee, and I will see that the steward has a good supply for you and the hands; but first, do you take the helm, Jack, whilst Watkins and I have a look at the chart, and try and work out where we are, and the course we had better lie for Guernsey." Five minutes were spent over the chart, then Watkins went above and Jack Harvey came below.
"You have got the coffee ready, I hope, Johnson ?" "Yes, sir, coffee and chocolate.

I didn't know which you would like." "Chocolate, by all means.