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My idea had been that so soon as the men had finished their dinner
we would weigh anchor； while I； smoking a cigar； with Ethelbertha
by my side； would lean over the gunwale and watch the white cliffs
of the Fatherland sink imperceptibly into the horizon。 Ethelbertha
and I carried out our part of the programme； and waited； with the
deck to ourselves。
〃They seem to be taking their time；〃 said Ethelbertha。
〃If； in the course of fourteen days；〃 I said； 〃they eat half of
what is on this yacht； they will want a fairly long time for every
meal。 We had better not hurry them； or they won't get through a
quarter of it。〃
〃They must have gone to sleep；〃 said Ethelbertha； later on。 〃It
will be tea…time soon。〃
They were certainly very quiet。 I went for'ard； and hailed Captain
Goyles down the ladder。 I hailed him three times； then he came up
slowly。 He appeared to be a heavier and older man than when I had
seen him last。 He had a cold cigar in his mouth。
〃When you are ready； Captain Goyles；〃 I said； 〃we'll start。〃
Captain Goyles removed the cigar from his mouth。
〃Not to…day we won't； sir；〃 he replied； 〃WITH your permission。〃
〃Why； what's the matter with to…day？〃 I said。 I know sailors are a
superstitious folk； I thought maybe a Monday might be considered
unlucky。
〃The day's all right；〃 answered Captain Goyles； 〃it's the wind I'm
a…thinking of。 It don't look much like changing。〃
〃But do we want it to change？〃 I asked。 〃It seems to me to be just
where it should be； dead behind us。〃
〃Aye； aye；〃 said Captain Goyles； 〃dead's the right word to use； for
dead we'd all be； bar Providence； if we was to put out in this。
You see； sir；〃 he explained； in answer to my look of surprise；
〃this is what we call a 'land wind；' that is； it's a…blowing； as
one might say； direct off the land。〃
When I came to think of it the man was right； the wind was blowing
off the land。
〃It may change in the night；〃 said Captain Goyles； more hopefully
〃anyhow； it's not violent； and she rides well。〃
Captain Goyles resumed his cigar； and I returned aft； and explained
to Ethelbertha the reason for the delay。 Ethelbertha； who appeared
to be less high spirited than when we first boarded； wanted to know
WHY we couldn't sail when the wind was off the land。
〃If it was not blowing off the land；〃 said Ethelbertha； 〃it would
be blowing off the sea； and that would send us back into the shore
again。 It seems to me this is just the very wind we want。〃
I said： 〃That is your inexperience； love； it SEEMS to be the very
wind we want； but it is not。 It's what we call a land wind； and a
land wind is always very dangerous。〃
Ethelbertha wanted to know WHY a land wind was very dangerous。
Her argumentativeness annoyed me somewhat； maybe I was feeling a
bit cross； the monotonous rolling heave of a small yacht at anchor
depresses an ardent spirit。
〃I can't explain it to you；〃 I replied； which was true； 〃but to set
sail in this wind would be the height of foolhardiness； and I care
for you too much； dear； to expose you to unnecessary risks。〃
I thought this rather a neat conclusion； but Ethelbertha merely
replied that she wished； under the circumstances； we hadn't come on
board till Tuesday； and went below。
In the morning the wind veered round to the north； I was up early；
and observed this to Captain Goyles。
〃Aye； aye； sir；〃 he remarked； 〃it's unfortunate； but it can't be
helped。〃
〃You don't think it possible for us to start to…day？〃 I hazarded。
He did not get angry with me； he only laughed。
〃Well； sir；〃 said he； 〃if you was a…wanting to go to Ipswich； I
should say as it couldn't be better for us； but our destination
being； as you see； the Dutch coastwhy there you are！〃
I broke the news to Ethelbertha； and we agreed to spend the day on
shore。 Harwich is not a merry town； towards evening you might call
it dull。 We had some tea and watercress at Dovercourt； and then
returned to the quay to look for Captain Goyles and the boat。 We
waited an hour for him。 When he came he was more cheerful than we
were； if he had not told me himself that he never drank anything
but one glass of hot grog before turning in for the night； I should
have said he was drunk。
The next morning the wind was in the south； which made Captain
Goyles rather anxious； it appearing that it was equally unsafe to
move or to stop where we were； our only hope was it would change
before anything happened。 By this time； Ethelbertha had taken a
dislike to the yacht； she said that； personally； she would rather
be spending a week in a bathing machine； seeing that a bathing
machine was at least steady。
We passed another day in Harwich； and that night and the next； the
wind still continuing in the south； we slept at the 〃King's Head。〃
On Friday the wind was blowing direct from the east。 I met Captain
Goyles on the quay； and suggested that； under these circumstances；
we might start。 He appeared irritated at my persistence。
〃If you knew a bit more； sir；〃 he said； 〃you'd see for yourself
that it's impossible。 The wind's a…blowing direct off the sea。〃
I said： 〃Captain Goyles； tell me what is this thing I have hired？
Is it a yacht or a house…boat？〃
He seemed surprised at my question。
He said： 〃It's a yawl。〃
〃What I mean is；〃 I said； 〃can it be moved at all； or is it a
fixture here？ If it is a fixture；〃 I continued； 〃tell me so
frankly； then we will get some ivy in boxes and train over the
port…holes； stick some flowers and an awning on deck； and make the
thing look pretty。 If； on the other hand； it can be moved〃
〃Moved！〃 interrupted Captain Goyles。 〃You get the right wind
behind the Rogue〃
I said： 〃What is the right wind？〃
Captain Goyles looked puzzled。
〃In the course of this week；〃 I went on； 〃we have had wind from the
north； from the south； from the east； from the westwith
variations。 If you can think of any other point of the compass
from which it can blow； tell me； and I will wait for it。 If not；
and if that anchor has not grown into the bottom of the ocean； we
will have it up to…day and see what happens。〃
He grasped the fact that I was determined。
〃Very well； sir；〃 he said； 〃you're master and I'm man。 I've only
got one child as is still dependent on me； thank God； and no doubt
your executors will feel it their duty to do the right thing by the
old woman。〃
His solemnity impressed me。
〃Mr。 Goyles；〃 I said； 〃be honest with me。 Is there any hope； in
any weather； of getting away from this damned hole？〃
Captain Goyles's kindly geniality returned to him。
〃You see； sir；〃 he said； 〃this is a very peculiar coast。 We'd be
all right if we were once out； but getting away from it in a
cockle…shell like thatwell； to be frank； sir； it wants doing。〃
I left Captain Goyles with the assurance that he would watch the
weather as a mother would her sleeping babe； it was his own simile；
and it struck me as rather touching。 I saw him again at twelve
o'clock； he was watching it from the window of the 〃Chain and
Anchor。〃
At five o'clock that evening a stroke of luck occurred； in the
middle of the High Street I met a couple of yachting frie