“Stop her!” said O’Hara, when he judged that her headway was overcome.
“Ring one bell!” added Raymond.
“One bell, sir!” echoed the quartermaster; and the engine stopped.
While this was done on board of the steamer, the hands on the wreck let go the halyard of the square sail, and it came down on the deck. The hulk was moving so slowly that it forged only a little ahead of the Ville d’Angers, leaving her on the weather quarter of the deck. From the top-gallant forecastle of the steamer, the officers had a tolerably clear view of the dismasted vessel, which might have been a ship or a barque, for the stumps of her three masts could be distinctly seen. She was painted green, and looked like a very old vessel, for her bow was as stunt-built as the craft of a hundred years ago.
“Hail her, Mr. Raymond, and let us ascertain what we can of her,” said Capt. O’Hara.
“Ship ahoy!” shouted the officer of the deck, through the speaking-trumpet which had been supplied by Mr. Fluxion; for this instrument meant twice as much to him as to any other officer in the squadron.
“On board the steamer!” replied a man on the deck of the hulk.
“What vessel is that?”
“The ship Castle William, from Calcutta to Portsmouth, with invalid troops!” yelled the man on the deck of the wreck; and there seemed to be not more than three men on duty there.
“Tell him we will send a boat on board,” said the captain; and Raymond repeated the words.