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Thelowertopsailsandcourseswerethenset，andthebrigbegantowalkthewaterlikeathingoflife，herforefootdiscoursingmusic，thebirdsflyingandcryingoverherspars。
Bitbybitthepassagebegantoopenandtheblueseatoshowbetweentheflankingbreakersonthereef；bitbybit，onthestarboardbow，thelowlandoftheisletbegantoheavecloseraboard。Theyardswerebracedup，thespankersheethauledaftagain；thebrigwasclosehauled，laydowntoherworklikeathinginearnest，andhadsoondrawnneartothepointofadvantage，whereshemightstayandlieoutofthelagooninasingletack。
Wickstookthewheelhimself，swellingwithsuccess。Hekeptthebrigfulltogiveherheels，andbegantobarkhisorders：
“Readyabout。Helm’sa-lee。Tacksandsheets。Mainsailhaul。”Andthenthefatalwords：“That’lldoyourmainsail；
jumpforrardandhaulroundyourforeyards。”
Tostayasquare-riggedshipisanaffairofknowledgeandswiftsight；andamanusedtothesuccinctevolutionsofaschoonerwillalwaystendtobetoohastywithabrig。Itwassonow。
Theordercametoosoon；thetopsailssetflataback；theshipwasinirons。Evenyet，hadthehelmbeenreversed，theymighthavesavedher。Buttothinkofastern-boardatall，farmoretothinkofprofitingbyone，wereforeigntotheschooner-sailor’smind。Wicksmadehasteinsteadtowearship，amanoeuvreforwhichroomwaswanting，andtheFlyingScudtookgroundonabankofsandandcoralabouttwentyminutesbeforefive。
Wickswasnohandwithasquare-rigger，andhehadshownit。
Buthewasasailorandaborncaptainofmenforallhomelypurposes，whereintellectisnotrequiredandaneyeinaman’sheadandaheartunderhisjacketwillsuffice。Beforetheothershadtimetounderstandthemisfortune，hewasbawlingfreshorders，andhadthesailsclewedup，andtooksoundingsroundtheship。
“Shelieslovely。”heremarked，andorderedoutaboatwiththestarboardanchor。
“Here！steady！”criedTommy。“Youain’tgoingtoturnusto，towarpheroff？”
“Iamthough。”repliedWicks。
“Iwon’tsetahandtosuchtomfooleryforone。”repliedTommy。
“I’mdeadbeat。”Hewentandsatdowndoggedlyonthemainhatch。“Yougotuson；getusoffagain。”headded。
CarthewandWicksturnedtoeachother。
“Perhapsyoudon’tknowhowtiredweare。”saidCarthew。
“Thetide’sflowing！”criedthecaptain。“Youwouldn’thavememissarisingtide？”
“O，gammon！there’stidesto-morrow！”retortedTommy。
“AndI’lltellyouwhat。”addedCarthew，“thebreezeisfailingfast，andthesunwillsoonbedown。Wemaygetintoallkindsoffreshmessinthedarkandwithnothingbutlightairs。”
“Idon’tdenyit。”answeredWicks，andstoodawhileasifinthought。“ButwhatIcan’tmakeout。”hebeganagain，withagitation，“whatIcan’tmakeoutiswhatyou’remadeof！Tostayinthisplaceisbeyondme。There’sthebloodysungoingdown——andtostayhereisbeyondme！”
Theotherslookeduponhimwithhorrifiedsurprise。Thisfalloftheirchiefpillar——thisirrationalpassioninthepracticalman，suddenlybarredoutofhistruesphere，thesphereofaction——
shockedanddauntedthem。Butitgavetoanotherandunseenhearerthechanceforwhichhehadbeenwaiting。Mac，onthestrikingofthebrig，hadcrawledupthecompanion，andhenowshowedhimselfandspokeup。
“CaptainWicks。”saidhe，“it’smethatbroughtthistroubleonthelotofye。I’msorryforut，Iaskallyourpardons，andifthere’sanyonecansay’Iforgiveye，’it’llmakemysoulthelighter。”
Wicksstareduponthemaninamaze；thenhisself-controlreturnedtohim。“We’reallinglasshouseshere。”hesaid；“weain’tgoingtoturntoandthrowstones。Iforgiveyou，sureenough；andmuchgoodmayitdoyou！”
Theothersspoketothesamepurpose。
“Ithankyeforut，and’tisdonelikegentlemen。”saidMac。
“Butthere’sanotherthingIhaveuponmymind。Ihopewe’reallProdestan’shere？”
Itappearedtheywere；itseemedasmallthingfortheProtestantreligiontorejoicein！
“Well，that’sasitshoul
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