We can hold on, I think."
"Then you won't try to run up alongside now?" Walter wanted to know.
"Indeed not! It would be dangerous. She rolls like a porpoise in a
seaway, and she'd crush us like an egg shell if we got too close.
All we can do is to hold off a bit, until this blows out. And it
can't last very long at this season of the year. Storms never do."
For all the hopeful prediction of the young officer, this blow showed
no signs of an early abatement. The wind seemed to increase, rather
than diminish and the seas were still very high.
Through it all the Tartar behaved well. Joe, with Slim Jim, the
faithful negro, to help, kept the motors up to their work, and
Walters Jack and the lieutenant took turns steering, for it was too
much to ask Joe or Jim to do this in addition to their other work.
The afternoon was waning, and it was evident that there would be
another early night, for the clouds were thick. Walter and Jack had
gone up on deck, while the lieutenant remained in the cabin, taking
some hot tea which Cora had prepared for him. A warm feeling of
friendship sprung up between the young officer and our travelers.
Inez was not feeling well, and had gone to lie down in her berth,
though it was anything but comfortable there, since the boat rolled
and pitched so.
"I say!" called Jack, down a partly opened port into the cabin, "I
think you'd better come up here, Lieutenant.
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