“As she is, sir,” said the mate. In a calm things go anyway in a sailing ship, but a little wind sharpens them up at once.
John stepped the mast as quietly as he could. He hooked the gaff to the traveller and set the sail. There was a little west in the wind and the boom swung out on the starboard side.
“She’s moving now like anything,” said the boy.
“I don’t want to get there too soon,” said John, “but I do want to get into the river while it’s still light enough to see but late enough for the pirates to be off their guard and feasting in their stronghold.”
“Peggy said they had supper at half-past seven,” said Susan.
“Well it’s ages after that now,” said John. “I should think we are all right.”
Here and there on the shores of the lake lights twinkled in the houses of the natives. Astern of them, over the tops of the