That will be valuable service." "What will you do ?" "Rig up the sail the best I can in the dark; there is breeze enough to give us some headway, and ship the rudder." "Do you know which direction to steer ?" "Not now, but I have a compass in my pocket; a northeast course would be sure to bring us to the coast, and towns are scattered along.

I found that out from Broussard yesterday." She made no response, bending over with the tin dipper, and I went at my task, straightening out ropes so they would work easily through the blocks.

In spite of the darkness I was not greatly hampered, as everything had been stored away in shipshape manner, and came conveniently to hand.

The wind freshened perceptibly while I was thus engaged, veering into the southeast, so that all the cloth I dare spread was the jib and a closely reefed mainsail.

The boat acted a bit cranky, but, confident she would stand up under this canvas, I crawled back to the tiller, eased off the sheet a trifle more, and waited results.