“Go down to the engines first,” said the skipper, “and I’ll send the boy to you with a bucket and some soap.”
“Bucket!” replied the engineer scornfully, as he moved to the side. “I’m going to have a proper wash.”
“Hold him!” roared the skipper suddenly. “Hold him!”
The mate, realising the situation, rushed to seize him, but the engineer, with a mad laugh, put his hands on the side and vaulted into the water. When he rose the steamer was twenty yards ahead.
“Go astarn!” yelled the mate.
“How can I go astarn when there’s nobody at the engines?” shouted the skipper, as he hung on to the wheel and brought the boat’s head sharply round. “Git a line ready.”
The mate, with a coil of rope in his hand, rushed to the side, but his benevolent efforts were frustrated by the engineer, who, seeing the boat’s head making straight for him, saved his life by an opportune dive. The steamer rushed by.
“Turn ’er agin!” screamed the mate.
The captain was already doing so, and in a remarkably short space of time the boat, which had described a complete circle, was making again for the engineer.
“Look out for the line!” shouted the mate warningly.