Unluckily one of them dropped an oar, which fell to the bottom of the boat with a loud clatter.
"What's that?" demanded the officer of the deck sharply.
"It sounded like an oar in a small boat, sir," answered Dan, making for the topside, which, he reached in a few swift bounds.
"Something going on down there, sir."
"Where away?"
"Just aft of the port boom, sir."
"Can you see the dinghy?"
"Aye, aye, sir. Just make her out."
"Is she all right?"
"She looks to be, sir. I can't quite tell from here. I'll get over that way; I'll go further forward, sir, and let you know. I see two dinghies now. The port and starboard dinghies are moored to the port boom, sir."