"We can never get that anchor up in this narrow place， once it has left the bottom，" I said."We should be on the rocks first.""What can you do？" she asked.
"Slip it，" was my answer."And when I do， you must do your first work on the windlass.I shall have to run at once to the wheel， and at the same time you must be hoisting the jib."This man渦vre of getting under way I had studied and worked out a score of times； and， with the jib-halyard to the windlass， I knew Maud was capable of hoisting that most necessary sail.A brisk wind was blowing into the cove， and though the water was calm， rapid work was required to get us safely out.
When I knocked the shackle-bolt loose， the chain roared out through the hawse-hole and into the sea.I raced aft， putting the wheel up.The Ghost seemed to start into life as she heeled to the first fill of her sails.The jib was rising.As it filled， the Ghost's bow swung off and I had to put the wheel down a few spokes and steady her.
I had devised an automatic jib-sheet which passed the jib across of itself， so there was no need for Maud to attend to that； but she was still hoisting the jib when I put the wheel hard down.It was a moment of anxiety， for the Ghost was rushing directly upon the beach， a stone's throw distant.But she swung obediently on her heel into the wind.There was a great fluttering and flapping of canvas and reef- points， most welcome to my ears， then she filled away on the other tack.
Maud had finished her task and come aft， where she stood beside me， a small cap perched on her wind-blown hair， her cheeks flushed from exertion， her eyes wide and bright with the excitement， her nostrils quivering to the rush and bite of the fresh salt air.Her brown eyes were like a startled deer's.There was a wild， keen look in them I had never seen before， and her lips parted and her breath suspended as the Ghost ， charging upon the wall of rock at the entrance to the inner cove， swept into the wind and filled away into safe water.