The situation, I am afraid, is beyond young Terry, the
second mate; I--"
As the import of what Mr. Howland was trying to say flashed across
Dan's mind, he turned abruptly, without waiting for the completion of
the sentence, and ran for the bridge.
Without a glance at the second officer, who seemed on the verge of a
complete funk, he shouldered the two sailors from the wheel and hauled
on the spokes with all the strength of his long arms. As the yacht
began to respond he seized the indicator crank and called for full
speed ahead. The whistle of the bridge speaking-tube sounded
viciously, and Dan, placing his ear to the receiver, caught the words
of the old chief engineer as they flowed up in profane vehemence.
"Say, do you know what you want up there? If I had a man down here who
knew an engine from a plate of fruit, I'd 'a' been up there and snaked
you off the bridge long ago. I've been on my back under that triply
damned shaft for twelve hours and now--" the rest of the sentence was
an assortment of well-chosen oaths.
The outburst greeted Dan's ears sweetly. Evidently Howland had a man
down below the water line, anyway. He grinned as he clapped his lips
to the tube.
"I've just come aboard to take charge of this craft," he yelled; "now
you do as I say and do it quick.
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