"Now the mainsail," continued Mr. Graham. "We can't set the peak, so we must set it as a trysail. We'll have to double reef first, or we cannot hoist the throat close up."
"Look, sir! There's something wrong with that drifter!" exclaimed Coles.
All eyes were directed upon the would-be Good Samaritan (at a price). Her engines were stopped, but she still carried way. Clouds of steam were issuing through the fidleys.
Raising his binoculars, Mr. Graham kept the vessel under observation. She was now about two cable lengths away, and slowing down steadily. Through the hatchway appeared the engineer, with his hands to his face and steam coming from his clothes.
"Main steam pipe burst," exclaimed Mr. Graham.
"She won't sink?" asked Hayes.
"No; she can set fore and aft sail. It's that poor fellow, the engineer, who has suffered by the accident. He looks badly scalded."
"First aid, sir?" asked Findlay hopefully.
"We'll ask them," was the reply. "Stand by to semaphore."
It was five minutes or more before Findlay attracted the attention of the skipper of the drifter.