Had I dared, with the
present danger-signal in the captain's face, I should
only have been reminded of my position as supercargo--
an office never touched upon in kindness--and advised,
in a very indigestible manner, to go below. There was
nothing for it, therefore, but to entertain my vague
apprehensions as best I should be able, until it
pleased the captain to enlighten me of his own accord.
This he did sooner than I had expected--as soon,
indeed, as the Chinaman had summoned us to breakfast,
and we sat face to face across the narrow board.
"See here, Mr. Dodd," he began, looking at me rather
queerly, "here is a business point arisen. This sea's
been running up for the last two days, and now it's too
high for comfort. The glass is falling, the wind is
breezing up, and I won't say but what there's dirt in
it. If I lay her to, we may have to ride out a gale of
wind, and drift God knows where--on these French
Frigate Shoals, for instance. If I keep her as she
goes, we'll make that island to-morrow afternoon, and
have the lee of it to lie under, if we can't make out
to run in.
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