The men settled down to the long, leisurely stroke, which they kept up until they were within about a mile of the ship.
"Shall I hit her up?"
"Yes."
"How fast?"
"Use your judgment. Do you want to make a finish?"
"Yes, sir; it will do us all good."
"Go ahead."
From eighteen strokes to the minute Dan worked it up to thirty, but so gradually that the men did not realize how fast they were going. They were drawing near the ship.
"Now, every man of you look alive to his work," warned the coxswain. "We do not want to make an exhibition of ourselves when we get near the ship. The whole ship's crew would have the laugh on us. Row as if you were in a race. Watch your stroke oar. That's it. Settle right down and saw wood."
The boat leaped ahead. Thirty-two strokes to the minute rolled up, then thirty-five.