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The La Motte, under a reefed mainsail and a single jib, worked very well in the heavy sea to which she was soon fully exposed when she had made a short distance from the beach off which she had been anchored. Mr. Jepson had found some boards under the fore-scuttle in the forecastle, with which he had covered the hatches. On the top of them he had placed a plank, used for rolling barrels or other freight ashore, which bore equally on all the boards. Then with a handspike he worked the spare anchor upon this plank.
The seven members of the Nautifelers Club were very busy with their beer. Dory had closed the door of the steerage, and fastened it before; for he had anticipated, to some extent, the imprisonment of the party in the cabin. They had not yet discovered what had happened to Sang and Wick: the beer monopolized all their attention.