"Lifeboat's all clear for lowering, sir," he said. "Noble, Peters,
Hansen, and Kyland are to go in her." He waited.
The old captain stood looking at the wreck, while the steamship rolled tumultuously in the trough.
"Who goes in charge?" he asked, after a minute's silence.
"I'll go, father," said the mate eagerly. He paused, but the Captain said nothing.
"You know," proceeded the mate, "father, you do know there's none of 'em here can handle a boat like me."
"Aye," said the Captain, "you can do it." He looked at his son keenly. "It 'ud make a good yarn to spin to Minnie," he said, with an unwilling smile.
The mate laughed agreeably. "Dear Minnie," he said. "Then I'll go, father."
"And I'll just see to the hoisting out of that boat," said the
Captain. "Good thing I had you put in the new pins."
The third mate on the bridge rang for steam and made a lee for the lowering of the lifeboat, the hands put a strain on the tackles, and the carpenter and bo'sun went to work to knock out the chocks on which she rested. Her steel-shod keel had rusted into them.
"Hoist away on your forward tackle," ordered the Captain. "Belay! Make fast! Now get a hold of this guy. Lively there, you men. Noble, aloft on the booms and shoulder her over."