some disagreeable, if not dangerous, antics.

"Steady!" added the captain when the steamer was headed a point south of
west.

This position brought the starboard side of the ship on the lee; that is,
this part of the ship was sheltered from the fury of the wind and the
waves, and it was the proper situation in which to lower a boat into the
water; for on the windward side these two powerful forces would be likely
to stave the cutter against the side of the steamer.

After the commander had struck the gong to stop her, he gave the order to
the second officer to lower the first cutter; and he left the pilot-house
for this purpose. Mr. Boulong was an exceptionally skilful officer in the
handling of a boat in a heavy sea. Watching for the favorable moment, he
gave the order to the cockswain and bowman to lower away, with the aid of
the oarsmen near them.

"Cast off the after fall, Stoody!" said he sharply to the cockswain; and
the order was promptly obeyed. "Cast off your fall, Knott!" he added almost
instantly. "Let fall! Give way!"

A receding wave carried the boat away from the side of the ship, precisely
as Mr. Boulong had calculated. The six oars dropped into the water as one,
and the men began to pull, getting a firm hold on the receding wave, which
sent the cutter to a safe distance from the ship. As soon as she was clear,
the commander, who had remained in the pilot-house, rang the gong to go
ahead. When the steamer had gathered sufficient headway, she was brought
about as cautiously as before.