"It's part of a
seaman's life, but it's an inferno while it lasts."

"Notify me if you hear anything further," said Captain Turner a few
moments later.

"Yes, sir. Hullo, here's something coming now. It's the _Borovian_, of
the Black Star line. She got that S. O. S. too, and is hurrying to the
rescue. But she's far to the south of us."

"Yes, we shall reach the _Oriana_ long before she does," said the
captain. "By the way, Ready, I've heard that you have quite a reputation
for loving adventure."

Jack colored. He did not quite make out what the captain was "driving
at," as the saying is.

"I do like action, yes, sir," he replied.

"Well, then," said Captain Turner, "you've got a little excitement due
to you for your prompt action last night in the case of the assault on
that diamond merchant. If you want to go on the boats to the _Oriana_,
you may do so. Get Thurman to stand by the wireless while you're gone.
You can make the time up to him on some other occasion."

Jack's eyes danced. He could hardly express his thanks at the
opportunity for a break in the rather monotonous life on shipboard. But
the captain had turned on his heel as he finished his speech and left
the grateful lad alone.

Thurman was sleeping when Jack roused him. When he learned that Jack was
to make one of the boat parties and that he (Thurman) was to remain on
duty, the second wireless man's temper flared up.

"That's a fine thing, I must say," he growled. "You're to go on a junket
while I do your work. I won't stand for it."

"Pshaw, Thurman," said Jack pacifically. "I'll do the same for you at
any time you say. Besides, I heard you say once you wouldn't like to go
in the small boats."

"Think I'm afraid, eh?"

"I said no such thing," retorted Jack, "I----"

"I don't care, you thought it. I'll complain to Captain Turner."

"I would not advise you to."

"Keep your advice to yourself. I've got pull enough to have you fired."

"This line treats its employees too fairly for any such claim as a
'pull' to be advanced."

"You think so, eh? Well, I'll show you. You've been acting like a
swelled head all the way over, Ready," said Thurman, forgetting all
bounds in his anger. "I'll find a way to fix you----"

"Say, you talk like an angry kid who's been put out of a ball game,"
said Jack. "I hope you get over it by the time you come on duty."

An angry snarl was Thurman's only rejoinder as Jack left the wireless
operator's sleeping q