Skillfully the lifeboat was brought around under the lee of the wreck. Already most of her crew had crept down to the rail and were waiting, half submerged, to drop into the lifeboat. But one figure was still visible high up in the shrouds.
When the waves sucked out from under her the keel of the lifeboat almost scratched the reef. Then it rose on a swell to the very rail of the wreck, wedged so tightly on the rock.
The castaways came inboard rapidly, bringing their injured skipper with them. The lifeboat was quickly overburdened with human freight.
"No more! No more!" shouted Cap'n Trainor. "We'll have to make another trip."
"Where's the professor? Bring down the professor! There he is!" yelled the mate of the Curlew, who had given his attention to the injured master of the wrecked craft. "Who lashed him fast up there?"
There was a movement forward. The storekeeper had got up and pulled a stout-armed member of the Curlew's crew into his place.
"Take my oar!" commanded Cap'n Abe. "I got a niece—he's her father.
Hi-mighty! I just got to get him aboard!"
With an agility that belied his years he leaped for the schooner's rail as the next surge rose. He swarmed inboard and started up the shrouds. Those below remained silent while he climbed.
He reached the helpless man, whipped out his knife, cut the lashings. Slight as the storekeeper seemed, his muscles were of steel. As though the half-conscious professor were a child, he lowered him to the slanting deck.
"Only room for one o' you!" roared Cap'n Trainor. "Only one! We're overloaded as 'tis. Better wait."