“Distinctly, sir,” replied the officer of the deck.
“What is she?”
“It seems to be a wreck, with a number of persons on board of her. All her masts have been carried away; she has a square sail rigged on a jury-mast, and is running before the wind,” added Raymond, as he made out the details he mentioned.
“I see her now,” continued O’Hara, as he traced the outline of the vessel through the dense mass of fog which covered the sea.
“We are running by her, sir,” said Raymond. “Shall I stop her?”
“Stop and back her,” replied the captain.
“Ring one bell!” shouted the officer of the deck.
“One bell!” responded the quartermaster in the pilot-house; and he rang it.
“Ring two bells!” added Raymond.
“Two bells!” repeated the man in charge of the wheel; and, when he rang them, the screw began to turn backwards.