"Blimy," said Simpkins, "we'll 'ave 'er sailin' like a witch yet. Chuck yerselves into it, and I'll call the captain."
But the captain was fast asleep in the bunk of the late skipper.
"What's become of her crew?" asked the new crew, as they sat round the deck and ate their biscuit.
"Took off by a steamer," said Simpkins; "you see they've left their boats, and the captain says the ship's papers 'as gone, so they was took off, for sure."
"I wish we were taken off," said the weary astronomer.
"That'll come, I dessay," replied the consolatory Simpkins, "but if we sails 'er 'ome, we'll get salvage, and your time won't be wasted. So cheer up, and let's make sail, while a couple of you keeps the pumps a-goin'."
The wind by now was a light north-westerly breeze, and though the barque worked heavily and wallowed in the sea, Simpkins took her as she went round and put the geologist at the helm.
"Keep the wind in the back o' your neck," said Simpkins to the nervous helmsman, "and I'll loose the foresail."
He jumped up aloft and loosed the foresail and two fore-topsails. Coming down, he got the scientific crew to work.
"Here you, ketch hold of this and pull. There, that will do. Belay! Tie the thing up, I mean, on that thing, you silly ass!"