"Certainly you can."
"Mr. Sherwood will be down soon, and we must be off before he gets here."
"Go up, and start her then," added Taylor.
Without noticing Lawry and Ethan, Ben rushed up to the wheel-house, and ordered the deck-hands to cast off the fasts, which was done. He knew how to steer a boat, and understood the bells, having had considerable experience on board the large steamers. He rang to back her, supposing Ethan was at his post in the engine-room.
She did not back, and he rang again, but with no better success than before.
"Back her!" shouted he, through the speaking-tube.
There was no answer; and, filled with anger, the new captain rushed down to the engine-room to "blow up" the engineer. He found Ethan on the main-deck.
"What are you doing there?" demanded Ben. "Don't you hear the bells?"
"I heard them," replied Ethan quietly.
"Why don't you start her, then?"