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.

The second cutter was on the port quarter of the vessel, and this movement
placed the boat under the lee. Mr. Gaskette had remained aft, and when the
ship had stopped her screw and nearly lost her headway, the captain shouted
to him through his speaking-trumpet, which the roar of the waves and the
escaping steam rendered necessary, to "Lower away!"

"Lower away when you are ready, Mr. Scott!" repeated the second officer.

Though Scott was only eighteen years old, he was an intuitive sailor, and
had a good deal of experience for his years. He had never before occupied
his present position; but his nautical genius, fortified by sundry combats
with wind and waves, made him feel quite at home. As the first officer had
done, he seized the auspicious moment when the retiring wave promised its
efficient aid, and gave the orders to cast off the falls.

The six oars grappled with the water on the smooth side of a great wave,
and carried it to the apex of the next billow; and she went off as
handsomely as the first cutter had done. Mr. Gaskette saw these manoeuvres
successfully accomplished, and then started for the pilot-house, t