“But I desire to do all I can to find the consorts before we do any thing,” interposed O’Hara. “When that is done, I am willing to act on my own responsibility, with your advice.”
“There is no let-up in the fog,” added Mr. Rimmer, as he took a long look on all sides of the steamer.
It was decided to wait till it could be ascertained whether or not the Josephine and the Tritonia were anywhere in the vicinity. The boatswain and the carpenter were instructed to fire the gun, which the Prince had used so effectually on the night of the collision, every thirty minutes during the rest of the day, or until the fog cleared off. The first gun was discharged immediately. At the moment of the report, the quartermaster struck eight bells in the pilot-house; and it was repeated on the great bell forward.
“All the port-watch on deck!” shouted the acting boatswain’s mate, as he piped the call through the ship.
It was the first dog-watch; and the first part of the port-watch had the deck for one hour. It was in charge of Gregory; and Raymond gave him the orders he had received, and handed him the trumpet as the indication of his authority. But there was nothing to do on board, except to keep a sharp lookout, and to give the fog-signals.
The stewards had been directed to get out the vegetables to be sent to the wreck; and they were attending to this duty. About a dozen boxes of onions, turnips, and potatoes, and a smaller variety of other vegetables, were now in readiness at the gangway to be conveyed to the Castle William. In the mean time the American Prince had gone into the cabin to consult his wife in regard to the needs of the sick on board of the vessel.
Mrs. Frisbone had been seasick for several days; but she had now completely recovered. The motion of the steamer, even while she was hove to, was quite easy; and the lady was sitting at the table in the after-cabin, as the part in the stern which was separated from the rest by the curtain was called. Miss Rodwood was at her side; and both of them listened with the deepest interest to the story of the Prince.
“I want you to see about getting together some things to send to these poor people,” said the Prince, when he had finished his narrative. “Perhaps you can tell what medicines they need, and get them out of the chist.”
“I will get them out of the chest”—
“Out of the chest, and not out of the chist,” added Mr. Frisbone, with a laugh. “I suppose we ought to let ’em all die while we make the chist into a chest.”