The rain was pouring off his sou’wester, over his nose. He looked very large and cheerful. Now this was approximately the moment when Pamela assured her mother--on Adrian’s authority--that the voyagers would be on shore at Tamerton or Netheroot! It was no doubt fortunate for Mrs. Romilly that she could not see the facts of the situation. The straining yawl was driving her way through apparently limitless grey sea, of which the churning foam was taken by a wild wind and flung ahead in stinging mist. The sky, so far as it could be seen, was a froth of whirling cloud; everything was grey and confused--no land--no order--no outline. "I believe we are going straight out to sea," said Crow. "Do you?" Adrian was not impressed, "we may be going anywhere--all ways look alike. Jolly untidy view I call it! And look here, what about that wretched dinghy? She’s about full up, and to judge by the way she’s towing weighs about two ton! In one of these jerks we shall snap the painter; and then--she’ll sink like a ton of sand." Of all things in the world Christobel dreaded what she called "playing with boats" in the open sea, under conditions like the present. She pictured a sickening lurch, Addie overboard--driving to leeward--swallowed up in hideous grey confusion, herself helpless! Her lips grew white, but all she said was: "Plenty of time yet." Adrian laughed, flecks of many colours dancing in his hazel eyes. "How true! And the world before us! I say, Crow, isn’t this absolutely top-hole?" "Hum--hum--please remember, my dear child, that we’ve got to come back." "Plenty of time," said Adrian, echoing her words. "I’ll agree with you, when the rain stops, and I can see where we are;" Christobel shook herself as she spoke, and then looked in an interested manner at the wet drippings. Adrian reverted suddenly to his unpleasant idea about the dinghy. There was no doubt that she was a serious pull back--a heavy and dangerous drag on the yacht. Crow saw it was inevitable, so she made her conditions. Adrian should bail out if she might bring _Messenger_ up into the wind and lie-to, while he chose to poise himself in critical attitudes. "Otherwise, I simply won’t," declared the skipper with decision. Adrian saw no necessity, of course. There was more zest in a really dangerous operation! However, he made no objection and Crow put the helm hard down. The yawl answered like a horse with a tender mouth. Round she came on a sweeping curve, the wet sails first shivering, and then giving out a succession of loud reports. A moment after and they were on a level keel in comparative quiet, leaping at the waves with some sort of regularity. "Phew! What a comfort!" exclaimed Christobel, stretching both arms. Then she lashed the jerking tiller, while her brother hauled over the foresail sheets, and braced in the mainsail close.