In a few minutes he shouts out that if
a boat is not sent off for those on shore he will turn back himself.
"If you don't do it," he says, "they will have to walk back to Boulogne,
thirteen miles."
A crew having volunteered, Mr. Michael Boyton determines to brave the
surf. The Earnest steams back as near as she can safely go to Cape
Grisnez. A second boat is lowered. Before it can reach the shore a
fisherman's skiff makes from the beach, and transfers to the boat of
the Earnest the three or four drenched passengers invited by Captain
Boyton to accompany him on his voyage. They are Baron de la Tonche
(Sub-Prefect of Boulogne) Mr. Merridew, Pilot Mequin and others. It is a
quarter to six by the time the Earnest overtakes Captain Boyton. He
gives a cheery trump of satisfaction from his foghorn, when he learns
that his sail and his guests have been fetched from land. He does
not have recourse to his sail yet as the wind (w. n.-w.) continues
unfavorable. He has nevertheless paddled to such good purpose by six
o'clock that he has covered seven miles from Cape Grisnez, albeit he is
but five miles from the French coast, having been carried up channel by
the current. His plan is totally opposite from the one followed by him
in his last voyage.
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