The girl took off her shoe and felt the wet foot. Then she glanced up at Crow, and said with more strength in her voice--she was revived by the food: "But, of course, I mean it. Everyone is the most important person in the world to himself. You _must_ think of yourself first, of course." Christobel was so startled at this point of view that she said nothing at all. She was not very ready with words at a crisis. So she contented herself by helping this young person into the bunk, with cushions and blankets; then she left the saloon, closing the door all but an inch or two; as it slid in a groove this arrangement was easy enough. Adrian was outside; she could hear him on deck, settling matters ship-shape, stowing down all loose ends and gear that might get free. The "tug of war" was coming; she knew that well enough; they had got to get home. "Hullo, old lady," said Adrian cheerfully, coming down beside her, "we’ve got to get home now. It’s a straight-forward job, anyway, no side issues! ’All is safely gathered in’," he laughed, so did Christobel. "I wonder where we are--about," she said. "Oh, can’t be far off. We shall soon know when we’ve had a shot or two," declared Adrian easily. The idea of "taking shots" at a lee shore, mainly consisting of rocks, in pitch darkness, with a strong wind behind you, would no doubt have been new and interesting to most sailors. *CHAPTER XXI* *Ladders of Light* "Pay off, pay off," cried Adrian; "we’ll run for it! The wind should be on our quarter, considering where it comes from; when we pick up the siren from Ramsworthy lighthouse--or better still, the light--we shall know how to get into Bell Bay." Christobel suggested that the bay would be too rough. As it was not possible to see to pick up the mooring-buoy, she proposed Salterne. It would be safe and calm within the estuary. "Oh, _rather_--of course," Adrian agreed warmly; he did not intend to tell his sister all he thought about their position, but he assumed the tiller. Christobel protested eagerly. "Truly, Addie, I’m not tired." "All right, you’re not, old lady; but we’ve got a stiffish time ahead, you know. We’re going to take this in turns, so save yourself for your watch. Why don’t you go in and take an easy now?" But Crow refused. She preferred the frenzied turmoil and Addie’s company, outside, to the warm ease within, and the neighbourhood of this strange girl. Brother and sister sat shoulder to shoulder in the spray-wet darkness holding the tiller between them, for it took one man’s strength at least to keep it steady.