The boat required but little steering for, as both were lying in the stern, the tendency was to run straight before the wind.

As the waves, however, became higher, she needed keeping straight when she was in a hollow between two seas.

It seemed sometimes that the waves following behind the boat must break on to her, and swamp her but, as time after time she rose over them, their anxiety on this score lessened, and they grew more and more confident that she would go safely through it.
Occasionally the baler was used, to keep her clear of the water which came in in the shape of spray.

At times they chatted cheerfully, for both were blessed with good spirits and the faculty of looking on the best side of things.

They smoked their pipes in turns, getting fire from each other, so as to avoid the necessity of resorting to the lantern, which might very well blow out, in spite of the care they had at first exercised by getting under the sail with it when they wanted a light.
They were heartily glad when morning broke.