When the boys had first reached the deck there was only a light breeze blowing, but it had been steadily increasing and now had grown to a strong wind.
"We can't wait much longer," the second mate declared. "What in the world do you suppose is keeping him?"
"But you wouldn't go without him?" Bob suggested.
"I'd hate to, but there's no use in all of us going down."
"Which we're going to do if we're not off in less than ten minutes," the other added. "I tell you she's going down mighty soon."
"Then let's go."
"But we can't leave him," Bob insisted.
"You jest watch us, matey," one of the sailors broke in as he sprang over the rail into the boat still holding the lowering rope.
"Give me five minutes and I'll go see if I can find him," Bob proposed.
"All right, but yer've got to hustle," the sailors agreed grudgingly.