Paul squeezed the hand of his young friend.
How he envied him this chance to prove his courage and to pull an oar in a life-saving trip.
The rockets had ceased to ascend as though either the supply had given out, or else conditions had become so bad that there was no longer a chance to carry on this work.
Then came the word:
"Go!"
There was a simultaneous movement on the part of the entire crew, and as the sturdy men put their shoulders to the task the surfboat shot forward just at the proper instant when a wave expended itself upon the sloping beach.
Its prow entered the water, and those furthest ahead sprang into their places, whipping the long oars into the rowlocks for a struggle against the force of the next onrushing billow.
Darry was one of these.
He had not watched that other launching for nothing, and understood just what was required of him, as though through long practice.