CHAPTER TWELVE
The calm lasted almost twenty-four hours, and early the following evening the wind freshened and began to billow the sails.
Sandy and her father had spent most of the afternoon fishing off the stern of the boat, and they had just finished feasting off of a large, juicy sea bass when the clattering of the rigging announced that the wind was coming up. Steve quickly took the wheel and stood the first night watch.
At midnight Ellie relieved him and he went below. Feeling hot and sticky, he grabbed a towel and soap, and going up on the forward deck, he dipped water from the ocean and quickly lathered up and then rinsed himself. Getting a bucket of fresh water, he soon had the salt water residue off his skin, and he allowed the night air to dry him as he smoked a last cigarett
