The next morning he came up on deck soon after daybreak.
"I see one of those vessels has taken her departure," he said, as he glanced towards the spot where they had been lying.
"So she has," the captain said.

"I had not noticed that before.

I wonder what that fellow has gone for?
No good, you may be sure.

Why, it is blowing hard outside still, as you may see by the rate those light clouds travel.

He would never have put to sea without having a motive, and he must have had a strong crew on board, to row out in the teeth of the gale far enough to make off the land.