go back. And silent, too, was my mother; but the children, who had no
care, were pleased with all things, and Raven and I were full of the
ways of old seamen.

So everything went quietly until after we had our midday meal. We were
all amidships on the wide deck, except my father and Arngeir, who sat
side by side on the steersman's bench on the high poop. There was no
spray coming on board, for we were running, and the ship was very
steady. Raven and I were forward with the men, busy with the many little
things yet to be done to the rigging and such like that had been left in
the haste at last, and there was no thought but that this quiet, save
for some shift of wind maybe, would last until we saw the English shore.

Now I do not know if my father had seen aught from the after deck, but
presently he came forward, and passed up the steps to the forecastle,
and there sat down on the weather rail, looking out to leeward for some
time quietly. I thought that maybe he had sighted some of the high land
on the Scots coast, for it was clear enough to see very far, and so I
went to see also. But there was nothing, and we talked of this and that
for ten minutes, when he said, "Look and see if you can catch sight of
aught on the skyline just aft of the fore stay as you sit."

I looked long, and presently caught sight of something white that showed
for a moment as we heaved up on a wave, and then was gone.

"Somewhat I saw," I said, "but it has gone. It might have been the top
of a sail."

Then I caught a glimpse of it again, and my father saw it also, and, as
we watched, it hove up slowly until it was plain to be seen. The vessel