"Step lively there, lads. What does all this mean, Mr. Officer of the deck?"
"I don't know, sir. The anchor watch discovered that there was something wrong. He's gone after them, sir."
By this time the captain was leaning over the port rail, training his night glasses on the dark sea.
"I make them out. Who is the anchor watch?"
"Seaman Davis, sir."
"You say the lad went after them?"
"Yes, sir, so it seems."
"How?"
"He must have gone over the side, for someone just called man overboard."
"The boy will be drowned! Have you ordered any one after him?"