"Is Captain Chickworth on board of the steamer?" asked Gray, addressing those on the forecastle of the steamer.
"He is not on board," replied Louis.
At this moment the engine, which had been doing its most vigorous work, triumphed over the mud, and began to move, to the great satisfaction of all the party on board, and perhaps to the discomfiture of those in the boat. She went astern very slowly, as though she had not yet fully conquered her enemy at the bottom of the bay. Gray, who was still holding on at the rail of the steamer, looked about him, as if to interpret the motion he could not help feeling. Then he said something to the man nearest to him, who passed up to him the painter, though those on board could not see what was done.
"All right now!" exclaimed Scott, as he ran into the pilot-house and grasped the spokes of the wheel.
"Don't crow till you are out of the woods," added Louis.
"She has got started and she will go it now," said Felix, as he went to the bow to see what progress the steamer was making.
The opportunity for which the boatmen had probably been watching appeared to have come when Louis turned his attention to the movement of the Milesian, for at that moment Gray sprang over the rail of the yacht to the deck, with the painter in his hand. There was a movement of his companions in the boat to follow him; but the English-speaking member of the band interposed, and prevented them from doing so.
"We will try gentle measures first," said he, as Louis interpreted his Spanish; and he spoke it very fluently, if not as correctly as Louis had been taught by his learned professor.
"If Captain Chickworth is not on board of the steamer, who is in command of her?" demanded Gray, as he made fast the painter of the boat at the rail.
"I am in command of her," replied Louis; and the situation seemed to call upon him to act without any election or appointment to the leadership of his party.