"Give way together!" and away went the boat on its errand of mercy, foaming over the choppy sea, toward the struggling swimmer.
"Way enough!" ordered the midshipman, as they approached the black, woolly head bobbing about in the water.
Bob stood up in the stern-sheets, as the boat lost its headway. Suddenly a look of wonder came into his face, succeeded by a suppressed chuckle, to the amazement of the men, no one of whom, however, broke discipline by turning his head.
"In bows!" called the coxswain, in response to Starr's order. "Stand by there, to pull the man in! Hold water! Stern all!"
Again a ripple of amusement shot over the midshipman's jolly face, which grew red in his attempts to suppress his emotions.
The next moment the bow oarsman reached down and with a great effort pulled the dripping castaway in over the side.
A roar of laughter rang out from the boat's crew.
"A dog! A big Newfoundland!" exclaimed the coxswain, as the animal, sinking down in the bottom of the boat with a low whine, gave himself a shake that sent the water flying over the men. "Shall we throw him over again, sir?"
"No, no," laughed Bob, resuming his seat. "He's too fine an animal to drown. Get back to the ship. That's enough, men! Silence!"
Rexdale, Staples, and Liddon had already made out the character of the supposed "man overboard," and were shaking with laughter when Bob returned. The duty remained, however, of hoisting the boat and resuming the course to Chemulpo.
"Lead along and man the lifeboat's falls!" shouted the executive.
The boat pulled up to the leeward side of the ship--the engines having been stopped--and a line was thrown to her. This was deftly caught by the bow oarsman and a turn taken around the forward thwart. The boat, by means of this line and skilful management of the steering oar in the hands of the coxswain, was sheered in under her falls, which had already been overhauled down so that the lower blocks were within easy reach of the men in the boat. The ship in the meantime was forging slowly ahead. A line was thrown from her stern to a man in the stern of the boat, who took a turn and held on, to keep the boat from swinging violently forward when she should leave the water.