tation men all the way up the mast to pass the word down in case any
lights are made out. I'll never hear the word shouted from up there in
this howling gale."

"Aye, aye, sir."

"Green light four points off the starboard bow," howled Sam Hickey.

"Green-light-off-the-starboard-bow," sang a chorus of voices from
somewhere far up in the steel mast.

"Man in the top says it's a rocket, sir," was passed down from mouth to
mouth.

"Aye, aye, I saw it," answered the watch officer. "Pass the word up to
hold the watch. Messenger!"

"Aye, aye, sir."

"Run for the captain's quarters. Tell his orderly we have sighted
green rockets off the starboard bow. We have made out no other lights,
but there is a ship in trouble off there."

The messenger saluted and was away in a twinkling, racing along the
slippery superstructure, guided only by his knowledge of the ship, for
he could not see a half dozen feet ahead of him.

The word was passed to the commanding officer by the latter's orderly,
and in an incredibly short time the captain emerged from his cabin,
fully clothed, his uniform covered by shining black rainclothes.

He quickly made his way to the navigator's bridge, arriving there only
a few minutes behind the messenger.

"What's this, Mr. Brant?" he demanded sharply in the ear of the watch
officer.

"Signal rockets, sir."

"You are sure of this!"

"Yes, sir. Half a dozen men aloft have sighted them. I saw one flash
myself."

"Where away?"

"Four points off the starboard bow the last time we sighted the light,
sir."

"How are you heading?"

"East southeast, three quarters, sir."

"Hold the helm steady until we see if we can make out another signal.
Up aloft, there!"

"Aye, aye, sir."

"Look sharp for lights. Report them quickly and make sure the word is
passed down. Pass the word back after it reaches me, so that you may
be sure I have it."

"Aye, aye, sir."

An interval followed, during which only the roar and shriek of the gale
were heard. Then all at once the red-haired boy's voice sounded above
the storm.

"Shooting star again, three points----"

"What's that?" roared the commanding officer.

"I mean--I mean I sighted the green rocket again, sir," explained Sam
Hickey lamely.

"Don't you know----"

"I caught the flash of it, sir," spoke the watch officer. "It was as
Seaman Hickey said, three points off the starboard bow this time."

"Starboard, two points!" commanded the c