Page:Silver Shoal Light.djvu/267

 "Do you think I'd better?" Joan asked.

"I don't know," he said; "you know heaps more about sailing than I do. But we can't stay here, ezackly. Dear knows when this'll blow over."

Joan soaked her handkerchief in sea-water and tied it around Garth's forehead. She also put a sweater behind his head.

"You'd better sit there for a while," she said. "I must think what to do."

She decided finally to try again, as the wind seemed to be slackening a little. She was not an expert in reefing a sail, and expended a great deal of time and strength on the process. She hoisted the sail and tied the reef-points as best she could; then set up the throat and peak, and lowered the center-board. She scrambled aft and seized the tiller, as the Ailouros gathered way and scudded off like a hound whose leash is slipped. All went merrily for a time, though Joan's face remained set in rather strained lines. Trasket Rock was drawing steadily nearer on the lee bow, when the Ailouros suddenly dove into a bigger sea than had come for some little while. She swung up as Joan eased the tiller, and then the sail tried to jibe again. Joan flung the helm over and checked it, but