“I have not: we have all been so busy that we have not thought of her. She has been standing off and on all night, I suppose.”
“There she is, astern of us,” added O’Hara. “We must run down and report the state of things on board to the captain. Call the quartermaster and a seaman to take the wheel, if you please, Tom.”
The two hands were called into the pilot-house, and the quartermaster was given the charge of the wheel. The other hand was required to assist him, for the officers had not yet learned how much force was needed to steer the steamer.
“Do you know any thing about these jinglers, Burley?” asked the captain, as the quartermaster took the wheel.
“Yes, sir: the chief engineer told me all about them,” replied Burley.
“Start her, then,” added the captain.
The quartermaster pulled the bell-handle on the wheel-frame. The hissing steam was heard below; the vessel jarred a little; and then she went ahead.
“The course, if you please?” inquired the quartermaster.
“Run for the Tritonia; but be sure you don’t run over her,” replied O’Hara. “She is astern of us now.”
“For the Tritonia, sir,” repeated Burley, as he threw the wheel over.