"And it's slack off the sheets for Japan!" I cried gayly."A fair wind and a flowing sheet, you know, or however it goes."Lashing the wheel, I ran forward, eased the fore and main sheets, took in on the boom-tackles, and trimmed everything for the quartering breeze which was ours.It was a fresh breeze, very fresh, but I resolved to run as long as I dared.Unfortunately, when running free, it is impossible to lash the wheel, so I faced an all-night watch.Maud insisted on relieving me, but proved that she had not the strength to steer in a heavy sea, even if she could have gained the wisdom on such short notice.She appeared quite heart-broken over the discovery, but recovered her spirits by coiling down tackles and halyards and all stray ropes.Then there were meals to be cooked in the galley, beds to make, Wolf Larsen to be attended upon, and she finished the day with a grand house-cleaning attack upon the cabin and steerage.
All night I steered, without relief, the wind slowly and steadily increasing and the sea rising.At five in the morning Maud brought me hot coffee and biscuits she had baked, and at seven a substantial and piping hot breakfast put new life into me.
Throughout the day, and as slowly and steadily as ever, the wind increased.
It impressed one with its sullen determination to blow, and blow harder, and keep on blowing.And still the Ghost foamed along, racing off the miles till I was certain she was making at least eleven knots.It was too good to lose, but by nightfall I was exhausted.Though in splendid physical trim, a thirty-six-hour trick at the wheel was the limit of my endurance.Besides, Maud begged me to heave to, and I knew, if the wind and sea increased at the same rate during the night, that it would soon be impossible to heave to.So, as twilight deepened, gladly and at the same time reluctantly, I brought the Ghost up on the wind.