The second cutter of the Josephine was hoisted out with its crew on board. The fact that the adult boatswain was sent in the boat, in addition to the usual crew, seemed to indicate that Mr. Fluxion would not send the boat unless he considered the occasion an emergency. It was probable that one of the students in the vessel was very sick, and that Mr. Fluxion believed the weather was better now than it was likely to be for some hours to come.
The cutter from the Josephine cast off from the schooner. The young oarsmen gave way with a will, and the boat began to rise and to plunge into the heavy sea. The two vessels were not more than a couple of cable-lengths apart; but the passage from one to the other occupied a considerable time.
The officer of the cutter skilfully brought his boat under the lee of the Tritonia. It was a perilous position, and it was in great danger of being dashed to pieces against the counter of the vessel. A rope was thrown to the bowman, who promptly secured it, and made it fast by catching a turn over the fore-thwart.
The first master of the Josephine, who was in charge of the cutter, was a lithe little fellow; and, taking to the rope as a cat runs up a tree, he climbed to the deck of the Tritonia in the twinkling of an eye.
“That was well done, Mr. Pepper,” said Mr. Pelham when the little officer stood before him, drenched to the skin by the seas that had broken over him. “You want chlorodyne.”
“Yes, sir: we had a large bottle of it, but the steward dropped it on the floor of the steerage, and spilled the whole of it,” replied Mr. Pepper. “Boyle is very sick with colic, or something of that sort; and Mr. Fluxion has no proper medicine for him.”
“I shall go on board of the Josephine with you; and I have the bottle in my pocket,” added the junior vice-principal, as he slid down the rope into the Josephine’s cutter.
Mr. Pepper followed him, and the boat pulled back. As it was evident that she must return to the Tritonia, she was brought up under the counter of the Josephine. Mr. Pelham was the first to board the vessel.
“I am surprised that you should leave your charge, Pelham,” said the senior vice-principal anxiously, and in a low tone, as his junior presented himself on the deck.
It took Mr. Pelham five minutes to tell the story of Tom Speers as briefly as it could be told.