Wolf Larsen put the wheel hard up, to port, and we began to pay off.

The wind was now dead astern, muttering and puffing stronger and stronger, and my head-sails were pounding lustily.

I did not see what went on elsewhere, though I felt the sudden surge and heel of the schooner as the wind-pressures changed to the jibing of the fore- and main-sails.

My hands were full with the flying-jib, jib, and staysail; and by the time this part of my task was accomplished the _Ghost_ was leaping into the south-west, the wind on her quarter and all her sheets to starboard.
Without pausing for breath, though my heart was beating like a trip-hammer from my exertions, I sprang to the topsails, and before the wind had become too strong we had them fairly set and were coiling down.
Then I went aft for orders.
Wolf Larsen nodded approval and relinquished the wheel to me.

The wind was strengthening steadily and the sea rising.