Ned nodded, trying to work out what the change of direction would mean. The barge sat deep in the water, heavily laden with cargo. The light southwesterly wind filling the sails blew steadily over his right shoulder, the perfect angle to move the heavy barge at a steady speed.
The tide was slackening, though it still had an hour or more of the ebb to run. The pressure of the water on the broad blade of the rudder transmitted itself through the tiller, and he could feel the ship through it.
Ahead and astern, other heavily laden barges and a scattering of larger ships threaded their way down the waterway.
“At t’ turn, we’ll gybe,” Bert informed him. “T’ ol’ man an’ yer mates’ll ’ave ter tend t’ braces an’ trim t’ sails ter t’ new tack, see.” He winked. “Yer an’ me’ll ’ave ter keep ’er off
