Quietly De Long looked from the little knot of men on the raft to Nindemann’s circling fists, then in an icy voice, he ordered,
“Nindemann! Come back here!”
Slowly the infuriated quartermaster approached his captain, to find a pair of cold blue eyes drilling into him.
“So you’d sooner be shipmates with the devil than with me, eh? You’ll find yourself in hell quick enough if you don’t do what I say! What’s the matter now?”
Nindemann quailed, his mutinous passion suddenly chilling before that frigid gaze.
“Nothing at all, sir,” he mumbled weakly.
“Another word from you and I’ll have you courtmartialed!” said De Long coldly. “Now get up into that hut and consider yourself under arrest until I send for you!”
“Very well, sir,” answered Nindemann, and meekly he scrambled up the bluff to the hut, while the captain looked down at the men milling round on the raft.
“Görtz! Lend Kaack a hand with those paddles! Shove off now!”
“Aye, aye, sir!” Immediately the raft started its second trip.