Some dark night, he had thought, on the Dogger, he would slip overboard and take his chance.

He had never looked for thick weather at this time of year off the Banks, so near home, within a few hours' sail of the mouth of Farlingford River.
If a breeze would only come up from the south-east, as it almost always does in these waters toward the evening of a still, fine day! Without lifting his head he scanned the weather, noting that the scud was blowing more northward now.

It might only be what is known as a slant.
On the other hand, it might prove to be a true breeze, coming from the usual quarter.

The "tap-tap" of the caulker's hammer on the slip-way in Harwich River was silent now.

There must be a breeze in-shore that carried the sound away.
The topsail of the "Petite Jeanne" filled with a jerk, and the Captain, standing at the tiller, looked up at it.