"Has any one counted the number of men on the wreck, or whatever it is?"
inquired the commander.
"There are eleven of them," promptly replied Scott, who, as an officer of
the ship, was in his element, and very active both in mind and body.
"Too many for one boat in a heavy sea," added Captain Ringgold. "You will
clear away the second cutter, Mr. Scott, and follow Mr. Boulong to the
wreck."
"All the second cutters aft!" shouted the third officer from the window;
and the crew of this boat rushed up the ladder to the promenade deck, and
followed the life-line to the davits of the cutter.
"Bargate, who pulls the stroke oar in the second cutter, has the rheumatism
in his right arm, and is not fit to go in the boat," interposed Mr.
Gaskette, the second officer.
"Let me take his place, Captain Ringgold!" eagerly exclaimed Louis
Belgrave.
"Do you think you can pull an oar in a heavy seaway, Mr. Belgrave?" asked
the commander, who always treated the owner with entire respect in the
presence of others, though he called him by his given name when they were
alone.
"I know I can!" replied Louis very confidently.
"I do not object, if Mr. Scott is willing."
"I am very willing, for Mr. Belgrave's muscle is as hard as a flint."
"Very well. Hurry up!" added the captain.
Four other men were sent aft to assist in the preparations for putting the
second cutter into the water; and in as short a time as Mr.
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