"It's all a wonder to me that she doesn't capsize," said the new voyager.
"A good whale-boat will outlive a poor ship," said the veteran.
[Illustration: THE PASSENGERS SAW THE WHALE-BOAT SWEEP DOWN UNDER THE STERN OF THE SCHOONER.]
And now watching with their glasses the passengers saw the whale-boat sweep down under the stern of the schooner, and round up under her lee, while the bowman stood up and hurled a line to one of the schooner's people. By the aid of this the whale-boat was dropped under the lee quarter of the cripple, and at each upward swing of the smaller craft one of the shipwrecked marines contrived to tumble into her. Six men and a boy of some fifteen years they were. Meanwhile the steamer was dropped slowly down until she was within a fair pull of the schooner. The whale-boat came leaping and dancing over the seas, the men laying down their broad backs to the oars, and the white smoke of the spray flying on either bow. It was no small task to get the men out of the boat without crushing her like paper against the iron side of the steamer as it swung downward, yet by patience and seamen's skill it was accomplished. The whale-boat was hoisted to her davits, and the _Mohawk_ resumed her voyage, while the shipwrecked men were taken below to be given warm drinks, food, and dry clothing.
"Will not their schooner drift about in the path of passing ships?" asked the new voyager.
"No, I fancy not," said the veteran; "she will--look!" At that instant the little schooner's stem rose high into the air, where it hung poised for a moment. Then she was swiftly absorbed by the pitiless sea, and her fluttering ensign made a bright spot above a patch of angry green for a moment and was gone.
"I never saw a sadder sight," said the new voyager, gazing with humid eyes upon the blank sea.
"There is none sadder," replied the veteran passenger.
They all returned to their snug seats under the lee of the deck-house, and for a long time were lost in meditation. Then the new voyager looked up and said, "I should like to hear their story."
"That is possible," answered the veteran; "come."
The Captain of the _Mohawk_ was found and the request made. He sent for the skipper of the lost schooner, and said: "Do you feel able now to tell me your story? If so, these gentlemen also would like to hear it."