“This schooner is sinking!” shouted Mayo. He fastened a heavy clutch upon Bradish's shoulders. “There's no time to argue this thing. You come along!”
He hauled Bradish to his feet and propelled him to the companionway, and the man went without resistance. It was evident that real danger and fear of death had nearly paralyzed him.
“There's nothing I can do!” he kept bleating.
But Mayo hurried him forward.
“Ralph!” cried the girl, fairly lashing him with the tone in which she delivered the word. “What is the matter with you?”
“There's nothing I can do. It isn't safe out here.”
“You must do what this man tells you to do. He knows.”
But Bradish clung to the gunwale of the long-boat and stared out at the yeasty waves, blinking his eyes.
“If I only had a couple of men instead of these two infernal tapeworms,” raged Mayo, “I could reeve tackle and get this boat over. Wake up! Wake up!” he clamored, beating his fist on Bradish's back.
“Ralph! Be a man!” There were anger, protest, shocked wonder in her tones.