"How many boats did you launch?" the brusk voice went on with the catechism.
The engineer decided to say eight.
"That all? Why didn't you launch more?"
"No time."
"No time! That shows you're lying." He turned again and conferred with the little group behind him.
"Ja, ja—auch meine Meinung." He wheeled round. "All right," he called out; "shove off!"
Nobody in the lifeboat moved.
Grant's voice was heard for the first time after the second of stark silence:
"What are you going to do with the people in this boat?"
"Finished with you. Shove off!"