The ship was drawing near and it was observable that Jarvis was not battling as strongly as he had before. They knew that he was becoming exhausted from his desperate struggle with the great seas that were sweeping him.
"Man boat Number 6 and put it over!" commanded the mate.
"No use to do that," called Rush. "It will not live. Better put over the lines at the proper time."
"No; it is the captain's orders to launch Number 6 boat. I want two men."
Nearly every man there stepped forward. They glanced at Rush. He was still on the rail. He had made no effort to volunteer for the dangerous service. They wondered at it, but they knew the boy's courage too well to think for a moment that he had been deterred from offering to go out in the life-boat through fear. There were those present who would have resented such an imputation.
Steve cast a disapproving glance at the mate who was then superintending the launching of the craft. The men who were to go out in it already had taken their places in the boat, that had been provided with ropes, life rings and life preservers.
At command the boat was swung out, the men standing up and steadying their craft by pressing their oars against the sides of the ship itself.
"Careful that you do not fall out!" warned Mr. Major. "I will give the command to let go. When I do so drop to your seats and out oars."
"Aye, aye, sir."
"Shut off!" shouted Rush. "You'll run them down!"