This, if she had luck, she would reach in safety, but if on the way
she fell in with a British privateer or cruiser she would of course
fall an easy prey.
No sooner was the bark on her way than the privateersmen set to work
to lift out their injured mainmast, and to replace it with that they
had brought on board from the bark. When daylight broke anxious
glances were cast round the horizon; but although a few distant sails
were seen, none of these were following a course that would bring them
near the brig, and the latter without sail and with her foremast alone
standing would not be likely to be noticed. Ralph could not help
admiring the energy with which the crew worked. Ordinarily they were
by no means a smart crew, and did their work in a slow and slovenly
manner; but each man now felt the importance of getting everything
into order before an enemy appeared, and so well did they work that by
midday the new mast was in its place, and before sunset the topmast
with all its yards and gear was up and the sails ready for hoisting.
Ralph had been in a state of anxiety in the early part of the night
lest he should be sent on board the bark and carried as a prisoner to
France. But no one seemed to give a thought to him, and it was not
until far on in the morning that the captain happened to notice him
hard at work with the rest.
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