CHAPTER IV.
MAN OVERBOARD!
“The life buoy!” came a sharp shout from the conning tower.
“Gone away, sir!” roared back the sailor whose duty it was to watch the contrivance.
Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern—now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant—or so he imagined—at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished. Waves began to hammer viciously at the slowing craft. The midshipman on watch had set the telegraph to “full speed astern!”
The engine-room crew had instantly obeyed the order. Into the angry sea the slender, vibrating craft began to back at the full power of her propellers.
As she did so, the middy was already off the bridge and among the watch. Lieutenant Timmons had also appeared, oilskins hastily thrown over his pajamas. He had assumed command and was on the conning tower.
“Volunteers for the boat!” sang out the middy.
“How many, sir?” asked Stanley.
“Four. That’s enough. We don’t want to overcrowd her.”