Then a piece of
the bulwark was razed to the level of the deck, and the
boat swung thwart-ship, made fast with a slack line to
either stump, and successfully run out. For a voyage
of forty miles to hospitable quarters, not much food or
water was required; but they took both in superfluity.
Amalu and Mac, both ingrained sailor-men, had chests
which were the headquarters of their lives; two more
chests with handbags, oilskins, and blankets supplied
the others; Hadden, amid general applause, added the
last case of the brown sherry; the captain brought the
log, instruments, and chronometer; nor did Hemstead
forget the banjo or a pinned handkerchief of Butaritari
shells.
It was about three P.M. when they pushed off, and (the
wind being still westerly) fell to the oars. "Well,
we've got the guts out of YOU!" was the captain's
nodded farewell to the hulk of the CURRENCY LASS,
which presently shrank and faded in the sea. A little
after a calm succeeded, with much rain; and the first
meal was eaten, and the watch below lay down to their
uneasy slumber on the bilge under a roaring shower-
bath.
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