“We will try it,” the fisherman said, “for food is running short; but we will not go far from the shore, so that we can pull back if the weather gets worse.”

The boat was soon launched, the nets and oars were already on board, and they quickly put out from the shore.  The boat carried a small square sail, which was used when running before the wind.  In those days the art of navigation was in its infancy, and the art of tacking against the wind had scarcely begun to be understood; indeed, so high were the ships out of water, with their lofty poops and forecastles, that it was scarce possible to sail them on a wind, so great was the leeway they made.  Thus when contrary winds came mariners anchored and waited as patiently as they might for a change, and voyage to a port but two days’ sail with a favouring wind was a matter of weeks when it was foul.

After rowing a mile from land the nets were put out, and for some time they drifted near these.  From time to time the old fisherman cast an anxious eye at the sky.

“We must get in our nets,” he said at last decidedly; “the wind is rising fast, and is backing from the west round to the south.  Be quick, lads, for ere long the gale will be on us in its strength, and if `tis from the south we may well be blown out to sea.”

Without a moment’s delay the fishermen set to work to get in the nets, Archie lending a hand to assist them.  The younger men thoroughly agreed in their father’s opinion of the weather, but they knew too well the respect due to age to venture upon expressing an opinion until he had first spoken.  The haul was a better one than they had expected, considering that the net had been down but two hours.

“`Tis not so bad,” the fisherman said, “and the catch will be right welcome —­ that is,” he added, as he looked toward the land, “if we get it safely on shore.”

The wind was now blowing strongly, but if it did not rise the boat would assuredly make the land.  Archie took the helm, having learned somewhat of the steering on previous excursions, and the three fishermen tugged at the oars.  It was a cross sea, for although the wind now blew nearly in their teeth, it had until the last half hour been from the west, and the waves were rolling in from the Atlantic.  The boat, however, made fair progress, and Archie began to think that the doubts of the fishermen as to their making the shore were in no wise justified, when suddenly a gust, far stronger than those they had hitherto met, struck the boat.  “Keep her head straight!” the fisherman shouted.  “Don’t let the wind take it one side or the other.  Stick to it, boys; row your hardest; it is on us now and in earnest, I fear.”