ed from giving this expression of his joy by the sight of poor
Mr Stokes' bandaged arm, which was still in a sling.

He contented himself, therefore, with patting him tenderly on the back
and walking round him admiringly, like a cat purring round a saucer of
cream.

"By George!" he cried. "I feel as pleased as if my grandmother had left
me five thousand pounds!"

"I wish she had," laughed the old chief. "I would ask to go shares!"

"And so you should, my boy; so you should," repeated the skipper with
much heartiness, and as if he really meant it. "How soon do you think
we shall be able to start, eh?"

"Very soon, I think, sir. The after-boiler fires were lit early this
morning and they've been getting up steam ever since."

"That's good!" cried the skipper, stopping in his excited walk up and
down the bridge, which he had again resumed, being unable to keep still,
when he looked up, caught sight of me and hailed me.

"I say, Haldane?"

"Aye, aye, sir?" I sang out from the top, where I had remained with the
boatswain on the look-out, and hearing likewise all that transpired
beneath. "What do you want, sir?"

"I hope you're keeping your eye on that boat, my lad. If she is there
we may be able to overhaul her yet, if you don't lose sight of her!"

"No fear of that, sir," I shouted back, pointing with my finger in the
distance. "There she is, still to win'ard, pretty nearly flush with the
water."

"Then she really is there all right, my lad. Keep your eye on her."

The funnels had been emitting smoke for some time without our having
paid much attention to the fact, the fires of the fore-boilers having
been kept in and banked ever since our breakdown, in order to work the
pumps and capstan gear when required; but now steam, I noticed, came out
as well as smoke, and I could hear it plainly roaring up the waste pipe,
besides making a fearful row.

Presently another sound greeted my ears and made me jump.

It was that of the electric bell in the wheel-house, giving warning that
those below in the emporium wished to make some communication.

Mr Stokes went to the voice-tube that led down thither from the bridge.

"What's the matter?" he roared into the mouthpiece so loud that I heard
every word he uttered, although a-top of the mast. "Anything wrong?"

I couldn't of course catch the reply that came up the pipe; and it
certainly was not a satisfactory one, for Mr Stokes turned round at
once to the sk