CHAPTER X
A Ship in Distress
HAD Henry but known it, there was no immediate necessity for his return to the Iroquois. Indeed, the Coast Guard cutter not only was unable to sail that day, but she did not cast off her hawsers until afternoon the day following. Although Henry thus had an unexpected half day in Boston, he saw no more of the city than he had seen on the preceding day, for when he awoke rain was pouring down, a vicious east wind was blowing, and the elements were as nasty as they well could be.
Even a complete suit of rubber would hardly have kept one dry very long in the slashing, blustering blasts that came howling through the Navy Yard. The rain drove in horizontal sheets. It whipped around corners and under doorways and awnings. It roared across open decks. It beat against the air-ports. With ever-increasing force the gusts came tearing in from the sea. Trees bent far over and groaned before their onslaught. Flags whipped themselves to ribbons. Halyards beat a very devil’s tattoo against their146
