"Here!" shouted Rexdale, angrily, "What are you about? Bring back that boy! He belongs to my ship!"
The Japanese officer half turned in his seat, waved his hat most courteously, and spoke to his men; with the result that they pulled harder than ever.
"Start her!" cried out Rexdale, furious with rage.
"Start her, sir," repeated the phlegmatic quartermaster, throwing over the electric indicator.
"Full speed ahead!"
"Full speed ahead, sir."
"Now port your helm! Look sharp!"
"Port, sir."
But by the time the Osprey had fair steerage-way the stranger, veering in to shorten the distance, had picked up her boat and was pouring volumes of black smoke from her funnels as she too forged ahead. Her bows slowly swung to the northward.
The captain on her bridge waved his hat.