A great groan went up from the decks of the "Long Island."
"It's all off," cried an officer. "The stroke oar is broken."
"Wait! What's going on over there?"
"Jump!" shouted Coxswain Davis. "Jump, I say!"
Sam hesitated, for an instant; then the purpose of his chum dawned upon him as he rose, crouching, from his seat.
Dan gave his companion a mighty push and Sam Hickey went overboard. A life ring went soaring after him.
"Into his place, number two!"
The man who had been Joe Harper's stroke oar slipped over into the seat vacated by Sam Hickey.
Dan sprang up on the rear seat with the tiller between his legs.
"Go! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten," he counted rapidly, to get the new stroke started in his pace.