"Here come the boys from the Curlew," she announced.
When the landing party reached the Petrel's side, Jones and Sorenson stared in silence at the white-shirted man leaning against the rail.
"Got things fixed up, Jones? You were a long time coming."
The skipper of the Curlew climbed aboard before
replying. Drawing the girl to one side, he said quietly: "Thing's pretty well shot, miss. Took her down and found this."
He extended a blackened handkerchief covered with fine dust. Dickie Lang examined it carefully, rubbing the particles of black grit between her fingers.
"Emery dust?"
Jones nodded. "She's full of it," he answered. "Don't dare and start her up. She'd cut herself to pieces."
Silently regarding the blackened particles, the girl asked: "Carlin was with you yesterday you said, didn't you?"
"Yes. Him and Jacobs."