The _Jessie_ was plunging madly to two anchors, and every second or third sea broke clear over her bow.
Two flags were stiffly undulating from the halyards like squares of flexible sheet-iron.

One was blue, the other red.

He knew their meaning in the Berande private code--"What are your instructions?
Shall I attempt to land boat ?" Tacked on the wall, between the signal locker and the billiard rules, was the code itself, by which he verified the signal before making answer.

On the flagstaff gaff a boy hoisted a white flag over a red, which stood for--"Run to Neal Island for shelter." That Captain Oleson had been expecting this signal was apparent by the celerity with which the shackles were knocked out of both anchor-chains.
He slipped his anchors, leaving them buoyed to be picked up in better weather.

The _Jessie_ swung off under her full staysail, then the foresail, double-reefed, was run up.