's he bound--'you that has knowledge and eddication'?"

"Didn't say; but he's bound for the Diamond Shoals, and he'll fetch up
in three hours, if we can't help him. He's close in."

"Tow-line's down the forepeak," said a man. "Couldn't get it up in an
hour," said another. "Yes, we can," said a third. Then, all speaking at
once, and each raising his voice to its limit, they argued excitedly:
"Can't be done." "Coil it on the forecastle." "Yes, we can." "Too much
sea." "Run down to wind'ard." "Line 'ud part, anyhow." "Float a
barrel." "Shut up." "I tell you, we can." "Call the watch." "Seldom,
yer daft." "Needn't get a boat over." "Hell ye can." "Call the boys."
"All hands with heavin'-lines." "Can't back a topsail in this." "Go lay
down." "Soak yer head, Seldom." "Hush." "Shut up." "Nothing _you_ can't
do." "Go to the devil." "I tell you, we can; do as I say, and we'll get
a line to him, or get his."

The affirmative speaker, who had also uttered the last declaration, was
Seldom Helward. "Put me in command," he yelled excitedly, "and do what
I tell you, and we'll make fast to him."

"No captains here," growled one, while the rest eyed Seldom
reprovingly.

"Well, there ought to be; you're all rattled, and don't know any more
than to let thousands o' dollars slip past you. There's salvage down to
looward."

"Salvage?"

"Yes, salvage. Big boat--full o' passengers and valuable cargo--shoals
to looward of him--can't steer. You poor fools, what ails you?"

"Foller Seldom," vociferated the little man at the wheel; "foller
Seldom, and ye'll wear stripes."

"Dry up, Sinful. Call the watch. It's near seven bells, anyhow. Let's
hear what the rest say. Strike the bell."

The uproarious howl with which sailors call the watch below was
delivered down the cabin stairs, and soon eight other men came up,
rubbing their eyes and grumbling at the premature wakening, while
another man came out of the forecastle and joined the two pacing the
forward deck. Seldom Helward's proposition was discussed noisily in
joint session on the poop, and finally accepted.

"We put you in charge, Seldom, against the rule," said Bigpig Monahan,
sternly, "'cause we think you've some good scheme in your head; but if
you haven't,--if you make a mess of things just to have a little fun
bossin' us,--you'll hear from us. Go ahead, now. You're captain."

Seldom climbed to the top of the after-house, looked to windward, then
to leeward at the rolling ste