"Coxswain, lay your course two points to port."
"Aye, aye, sir."
The whaleboat headed for the speck that the lookout had made out through his glass. In a few minutes the whaleboat had drawn up alongside.
"She's empty, sir."
"Do you make out the other boat?"
"No, sir."
"I think I see her," said the officer. "Train your glass dead abeam to starboard."
"Yes, sir, that's the other dinghy. She's drifting."
"Then something has happened to those men. Lay to, men. Pull for all you're worth. They may be drowning while we are lying here. Coxswain, look alive."
"Aye, aye, sir."