“Oh! Looking out for the boats?”
“Yes, sir.”
“That’s right. I like to see a young officer take an interest in the men.”
They moved away to walk forward, while my face burned, for I did not deserve the praise, and my words had not been quite so honest as I could have wished.
All at once, from out of the blackness astern, I heard the regular dip of oars, and at the same moment one of the watch challenged and received an answer. A minute later they were close up, and I shouted—
“Found him?”
“No, sir; not a sign of him anywhere.”
I uttered a low groan, and the boats separated, one going to starboard and the other to port, to be hauled up to their quarters, and there was the customary trampling of the men going to their positions to run them up.
“Poor old Ching!” I said aloud; and then I started back as if I had received a stroke, for my name was uttered from below in a sharp whisper.
“Mister Hellick! Mister Hellick!”