The girl eventually lost all sense of acute feeling. She sat dumb, her
undeviating eyes fastened upon Dan's face, as though in him she found
all that was tangible or normal or real. Her hand was resting on his
shoulder now, clutching it tight; but if he knew it was there, he made
no sign.
At length, toward evening, as though in a dream, Dan's voice bore upon
her ears. For a moment she gazed at him dully, and then she
comprehended his words.
"It is beginning to rain, Virginia. The fog will go away now."
"Oh, good!" she exclaimed.
"The wind is freshening, too," he added, "and it doesn't feel very
good. I think we're going to have a blow for a change."
It seemed so. Already the mists were beginning to scuttle away before
the increasing wind-rush which moaned with evil breath.
"Will you hold the wheel for a moment, please," said Dan.
As she placed her hands on the spokes he went forward and lowered the
sail. There were two lines of reef points in the section of canvas and
Dan took in both. When he hoisted it again there was just a patch of
three-cornered sail.
Within half an hour it was raining hard. The wind was increasing
slowly but surely, and the sea was rising. Dan asked the girl to go
into the cabin and to remain there either until the storm was over, or
he summoned her.
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