Well, here we are alongside." "Good afternoon, captain.

When are we going to sail ?" O'Connor asked the master of the vessel as he stepped on deck.
"You must ask the clerk of the weather," the skipper replied.

"At present there is not a breath of wind stirring, and from the look of the sky I see no chance of a change at present." Day after day passed, and still the vessels remained at anchor.

Not a breath of wind stirred the water, and the troops had nothing to do but to lounge idly about the decks and whistle for a breeze.

Whenever a vessel came in from England boats were lowered and rowed alongside to get the latest news.