"Spikeley!" called the major, in a loud voice; and the engineer came out of his den. "Start her up now."
"Run her at about half speed, major," and the commandant repeated his direction to the engineer.
Christy retreated to the pilot-house, and threw over the wheel of the boat; so that, when the screw began to turn, the bow of the tug soon headed to the southward, which gave her the wind ahead. Then he brought her so that the water was comparatively smooth on her port quarter, where the long-boat was.
Without the loss of a moment, the major drove all his men into the boat, and they shoved off. The men were soldiers, and they had had but little practice in rowing, having taken it up at the fort. They made rather bad work of it; but, more by luck than skill, the boat cleared the tug without being stove.
"Spikeley!" shouted the major.
"Here, sir," replied the engineer, hobbling out of his room.
"Stop the engine, and remember what I told you," added the commandant.
"All right, sir: I will do just as you ordered me."
"What does he want to stop the engine for?" asked Percy. "She don't roll so badly when the engine is going."
"That is very true; but your brother knows what he is about," replied Christy, his eyes beginning to light up with an unwonted fire.