for a brief reversing of engines. A moment later headway speed ahead was
ordered. So on Eph went through the series of orders until the “Farnum”
had been manœuvred to her exact position. Then, from above, Captain Jack’s
voice was heard, roaring in almost his usual tones:

“Turn out below, there, to help make fast!”

“Take the lever, Williamson,” directed Eph. “Come along lively, Truax.”

“Humph! Let Williamson go,” grumbled Truax.

“You come along with me, my man!” roared Eph, his face blazing angrily.
“Hustle, too, or I’ll report you to the captain for disobedience of
orders. Then you’ll go ashore at express speed. Coming?”

Sam Truax appeared to wage a very brief battle within himself. Then,
nodding sulkily, he followed.

“Hustle up, there!” Jack shouted down. “We don’t want to drift.”

Jack Benson stood out on the platform deck, holding to the conning tower
at the port side. A naval launch had just placed a buoy over an anchor
that had been lowered.

“Get forward, you two,” Jack called briskly, “and make the bow cable fast
to that buoy.”

Hal still sat at the wheel in the tower. As Eph and Truax crept forward
over the arched upper hull of the “Farnum,” Hal sounded the engine room
signals and steered until the boat had gotten close enough to make the bow