"
"Will you belay your jaw?" roared David, in a fury that Lucy did not
comprehend at the time. "What a set of tarnation babblers in one
little boat."
"I won't speak any more, Mr. Dodd; I won't speak."
"Bless your heart, it isn't you I meant. 'Twould be hard if a lady
might not put her word in. But a man is different. I do love to see a
man belay his jaw, and wait for orders, and then do his duty; hoist
the mainsel, you!"
"Ay, ay, sir."
"Shake out a couple of reefs."
"Ay, ay, sir."
And the lateen spread both her great wings like an albatross, and
leaped and plunged, and flew before the mighty gale.
CHAPTER XVIII.
"THIS is nice. The boat does not upset or tumble as it did. It only
courtesies and plunges. I like it."
"The sea has not got up yet, miss," said Jack.
"Hasn't it? the waves seem very large."
"Lord love you, wait till we have had four or five hours more of
this."
"Belay your jaw, Jack."
"Ay, ay, sir."
"Why so, Mr. Dodd?" objected Lucy gently. "I am not so weak as you
think me. Do not keep the truth from me. I share the danger; let me
share the sense of danger, too. You shall not blush for me."
"Danger? There is not a grain of it, unless we make danger by
inattention--and babbling."
"You will not do that," said Lucy.
Equivoque missed fire.
"Not while you are on board," replied David, simply.
Lucy felt inclined to give him her hand. She had it out half-way; but
he had lately asked her to marry him, so she drew it back, and her
eyes rested on the bottom of the boat.
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