“Those men want to be taken off,” hailed Crump when he was close to the towboat.
“Well?” said Dixey.
“And you got two boats?”
“Yes, and one already smashed trying to put it over.”
“Well, there’s the other.”
“And smash that, too?”
“Well, I’ll be damned—and a frost-bitten crew alongside—and their vessel sinkin’ under their feet. How about the busted one towin’ astern?”
“It’s full of water.”
“Well, cast her adrift, and we’ll stand by and pick her up and patch her up and take the bark’s crew off with her.”
“Lord, you’re the devil and all, ain’t you?”