"Get it! Grab it!" panted sympathetic Ab.
The stranger just managed the feat, leaping up and holding on as though for dear life, while the yawl, checked in its headway, was swung around. Desperately the stranger bent down, taking a hitch with the rope. The bow watch had sprung to help Ab make fast the inside end of the line.
"There you've got it," called Ab, cheeringly. As the "Panther" was going but eight miles an hour the stranger was able, without risk, to haul the small boat in alongside.
"Can you climb?" Ab called down, in a low voice.
"Only a few feet needed, then we can reach your arm-pits," Ab called, encouragingly.
It was not long ere young Perkins and the bow watch were able to help the stranger aboard.
The young first officer's first thought, on seeing the yawl sweep into view, was that a trick had been attempted by the enemy, for the "Victor" had recently slipped ahead. But Ab's first glimpse at the stern of the yawl showed the name, painted in goodly black letters, "S. S. Dolbear." In the bottom of the yawl lay two life preservers bearing the same name.
"How on earth do you come to be away out here at sea, in a small boat?" demanded Ab of the stranger.
"I was a freight clerk aboard the liner 'Dolbear,' bound from Auckland, New Zealand, to San Francisco," replied the rescued one.
"Foundered, five days ago. Life boats crowded, so that the last three of us had to take to the yawl. We tried to keep up with the other boats, but fell behind the first night. Next morning we were alone on the ocean. After two days one man in our party became crazed and jumped over into the sea. Last night the other man with me did the same. Oh, it was a gruesome experience, I assure you."
"It must have been," returned Ab Perkins, sympathetically.
"Sir, that yawl is bumping alongside," broke in the bow watch.
"Cut her loose, then, and let her drift," ordered Ab. "We can't be encumbered with any useless lumber. Then return to your watch. Mr. Costigan, warn the engine room to increase our speed as much as you find necessary. We can't let the 'Victor' go on getting ahead of us. Run right up parallel again."
"You're hungry, I suppose," suggested Ab, looking at the stranger. "I'll pass word for our second stew----"