eeded, Dave had to commandeer two of the smallest.
Himself going in one of these, he superintended the making fast of the
canvas patches below from the water. Seamen over the hull's side in
slings, acting under the second mate, did valiant service at the same
time.

With a single outside canvas patch over the forward hole, Darrin moved
back to the second breach. Here, too, a patch was quickly put in place.

By this time the "Grigsby" and the mine-sweepers had received nearly as
many rescued passengers as they could hold. The small boats were
returning for more.

Up to Dave rushed Captain Senby of the "Gloucester."

"Captain," he called, addressing Dave Darrin by that courtesy title,
"these Red Cross women ought to be saved while there's time, but they
refuse to go over the side until their patients are safe."

"Did you expect they would desert their patients?" Darrin asked quietly,
his gaze still on the work that he was directing.

"But, Captain, we must save the women folks, anyway! Won't you use your
persuasion to help me?"

"No," came Dave's quick response. "These women are asserting their right
to prove the stuff that is in them. In this war, in their own fields, the
women fight as bravely as the men."

"In a time like this the women ought to be saved!" the British master
insisted.

"Not at the expense of their best sense of duty," Darrin answered.

For an instant Senby regarded the young naval officer with amazement
before he blurted:

"Captain, I don't believe you have any women folks of your own!"

"My wife is one of the Red Cross women on board," Darrin answered,
quietly. Then, raising his voice, he added:

"That patch is ready! Over with it!"

Thus was the second patch fitted over the forward hole, and men were busy
completing another for the second hole.

And now with the small boats filled, Darrin anxiously surveyed the sea.
No ships were yet in sight.

"Get more patches ready!" he shouted.

He then descended to the first compartment, stepping down into the water
to take its depth. He judged it to be of about the same depth as before.

Four patches were over each hole by the time that the first trail of
smoke was observed far down on the horizon. A steamship was coming to
their aid, but would it arrive in time?

Another inspection showed that the pumps had made a slight gain on the
water. It was going out of the compartments faster than it could get in
past the canvas. But Dave knew th