I had the advantage over heavy ships, by long odds, in the light winds of this and the two previous days.

The wind was light; his ship was heavy and foul, making poor headway, while the _Spray_, with a great mainsail bellying even to light winds, was just skipping along as nimbly as one could wish.

"How long has it been calm about here ?" roared the captain of the _Java_, as I came within hail of him.

"Dunno, cap'n," I shouted back as loud as I could bawl.

"I haven't been here long." At this the mate on the forecastle wore a broad grin.