The mate stared through the glasses for some minutes, then handed them back to the Captain.
"It's a boat with a man and a woman in it, or I'm a nigger," he said.
"So I thought," answered the Captain.
CHAPTER V
DORA FLETCHER
A signal was immediately hoisted to let the castaways know that they were observed and the steamer's course was changed to bring her as near as possible to the drifting boat. But there was still such a heavy sea running that a near approach would have involved the risk of the boat being dashed against the Hawk's side before the occupants could be rescued. So the bos'n, standing on the foc'sle head, cast a line which, after three vain attempts, was caught by the young woman in the stern sheets, who made it fast to one of the thwarts. Then one of the steamer's derricks was slung outboard with a rope sling suspended and half a dozen men laid on to the line attached to the boat.
"Catch hold of that sling as you pass under it!" roared Calamity from the bridge.
After some difficult manoeuvring, boat and steamer were brought into such a position that the former passed immediately under the sling.
"Quick now, my girl, or you'll lose it!" shouted the Captain.