“No doubt of it,” replied Marline. “The fog is lifting now.”
“The steamer seems to be in no danger of sinking,” added Wainwright, as he brought his glass to bear upon her. “Her stern is well down in the water, but her bow is clear up in the air.”
“She won’t go down unless the weather gets worse. It is moderating very rapidly.”
“What can we do with the steamer after we get on board of her?” asked the captain, who had been considering this question since the wreck was first discovered.
“I don’t know that we can do any thing but save the passengers,” replied Marline.
“But the vessel seems to be in good condition; and it may be possible to take her into port.”
“It may be; but I think we have not force enough to handle her, if the crew have deserted her.”
“If we save her, won’t she belong to us?” inquired Wainwright, who had been a seaman on the Josephine when she picked up a Dutch vessel in the North Sea, in a sinking condition.
“No; but the judges of the Marine Court, or whatever they call it over here, decide what part of the value of the vessel shall be given to those that save her.”
“It is a case of salvage, then. I didn’t know but the vessel, if she had been wholly abandoned, might go to those who picked her up.”