“Can’t we help at this work, Mr. Stubbs?” asked Harry. “The poor men look utterly exhausted.”
“Well thought of, my boy! I am with you. I will speak to the captain.”
But Mr. Holdfast, the mate, chanced to be nearer, and to him Mr. Stubbs put the question:
“Can’t I help at the pumps?”
“And I, too, Mr. Holdfast,” put in Harry.
“I accept your offer with thanks. The men are very tired.”
So Harry and Mr. Stubbs helped at this necessary work, and when the professor and the Melbourne merchant heard of it they, too, volunteered. But Marmaduke Timmins, the valetudinarian, and Montgomery Clinton felt quite inadequate to the task.
Harry found his work tiresome and fatiguing, but he had the comfort of feeling that he was relieving the exhausted sailors, and doing something to save his own life and the lives of his companions.
He caught sight of poor Jack, looking ready to drop.
“Jack, you must be very tired,” he said, in a tone of deep sympathy.