"Leave him to me. Get the fires banked so you can shut off that infernal steam. Just keep steam enough to blow the whistle."
"Come on, boys," said the Second to his firemen.
They did not budge.
"Come on, boys!" said Evan. "Don't let the kids shame you! Listen to the little beggars singing up there."
The two firemen slunk aft and disappeared down their ladder.
Evan presently had the satisfaction of seeing the engineer open his eyes. He was apparently not seriously injured. Two of the deckhands carried him to his berth which was on the same deck.
Evan returned to the saloon. "All straightened out below," he said cheerfully. "The old flivver has made a complete job of her engine. We'll have to get a horse."
The children laughed. Evan said aside to Dordess: "When they're tired of singing, get up a show."
He went on up to the pilot-house. The mate and Tenterden were anxiously straining their eyes through the fog. At minute intervals the mate sounded the distress signal of five short blasts on the Ernestina's whistle.
"Where's the Captain?" asked Evan.