Clack! was the sound that followed the first cry. Like a flash the marine sentry had thrown his rifle to the deck. A single bound carried him to one of the night life buoys. This he released, and hurled far astern.
As the night buoy struck the water a long-burning red light was fused by contact. The glow shone out over the waters.
In the meantime, the "Massachusetts's" speed was being slowed rapidly, and a boat's crew stood at quarters.
The boat put off quickly, guided by the glow of the red signal light on the buoy. Ere the boat reached the buoy the coxswain made out the head and shoulders of a young man above the rim of the floating buoy.
Soon after the boat lay alongside. Dave, with the coxswain's aid, pulled himself into the small craft.
Recovering the buoy, the coxswain flashed the red light three times. From the deck of the battleship came a cheering yell sent up from hundreds of throats.
In the meantime, however, while the boat was on its way to the buoy, a pulsing scene had been enacted on board.
Farley went straight up to Midshipman Pennington.
"Sir," demanded Farley hotly, "why did you push Mr. Darrin over the rail."
Pennington looked at his questioner as one stunned.