g clad only in
trousers and jumpers.

"Get ready."

"Toss oars," commanded the coxswain of each boat.

Every man raised his oar upright.

"Let go the falls," commanded the executive officer.

The two whaleboats struck the sea with a mighty splash.

"Cast off! Go!" shouted the two coxswains, at which the men fell to
their oars with a will. But those in the number two whaleboat either
had not been quick enough, or else a wave had caught them unawares.
Their frail craft was picked up on the crest of a wave and hurled with
mighty force against the side of the ship, the smaller boat instantly
going to pieces. In a second, thirteen men were struggling in the
boiling sea, fighting desperately for their lives.

CHAPTER II

WHALEBOATS TO THE RESCUE

"Number one whaleboat, there! Go on! You'll be dashed to pieces if
you try to rescue them," shouted the executive officer, as the boat
holding Dan Davis turned about, bent on rescuing the drowning sailors.

"Cast the life buoys!"

Life lings shot over the side of the battleship, grasped by eager
hands, and one by one the unfortunate sailors were pulled on board,
some with arms or legs broken from being dashed against the iron sides
of the battleship. A quick roll call showed that every one of the
boat's crew was accounted for.

Sam Hickey had not been injured.

"Man the cutter with a fresh crew," commanded the captain from the
bridge, where he was directing operations.

Sam was the first man to run up the ladder and take his place in the
boat. No effort was made to turn him out. Three others, who had been
in the unfortunate boat, were close at his heels, while the rest of the
crew was made up of fresh volunteers.

"Man the oars more quickly this time," shouted the captain from the
bridge.

The cutter was swung out and slowly lowered by the falls. At command
the boat was let go, striking the sloping side of a wave which carried
the boat some distance from the ship, so sure had been the judgment of
the executive officer, who had given the command to let go.

At the command "oars out," the oars were quickly slipped into place.
There was no loss of time now in obeying orders.

"Give way!" commanded the coxswain, at which the heavy cutter's bow
raised clear of the sea and the boat began plunging toward the disabled
schooner. The latter lay a long distance from the ship, the
battleship's commander not daring to draw closer for fear of smashing
into