standing now, sir," spoke up the executive
officer. "She seems to be in a bad way."

"Steady her," commanded the captain.

"She's steady," answered the quartermaster at the wheel of the
battleship.

"Slow both engines ahead."

The "Long Island" was rolling more heavily than before, now and then
giving a violent lurch, forcing every person on deck to cling to
whatever support was nearest to him. Otherwise men might have been
hurled overboard and lost in the tumbling sea.

By this time the schooner was fairly well outlined by the battleship's
searchlight, but the lookouts were unable to make out any signs of life
on board the distressed ship. They felt sure, however, that the
schooner was on its last legs, and that it was a question of moments,
perhaps, before she would take her final plunge.

"All depends upon what she is loaded with, as to how long she lasts,"
decided the captain of the battleship.

"She is flush with the water," answered the executive officer. "I
should say she must be loaded with lumber. She would have been down
long ago, otherwise."

"I think you are right, Mr. Coates. Hail them with the megaphone as
soon as you think you can make them hear. We are to the windward and
your voice should carry."

"Schooner ahoy!" shouted the executive officer.

There was no answering word from the disabled schooner. The distance
at which the battleship was compelled to keep for its own safety, to
say nothing of the roar of the gale, made communication by word of
mouth impossible. At this moment another rocket from the schooner
seemed to emphasize the necessity for immediate help.

Turning toward the men assembled on the gun deck, the captain addressed
them:

"Battleship crew there! A ship is sinking hard by.

"Volunteers are wanted to man the whaleboats. It is a dangerous
mission. All who are willing to volunteer, step forward."

Every man within hearing distance stepped forward, and a crew was
quickly chosen. Sam Hickey and Dan Davis were among the twenty-four
men who scrambled into the two boats.

Other sailors took their places by the ropes that controlled the
raising and lowering of the life boats. The executive officer, now
standing on the superstructure, watching the sea and his own ship, was
awaiting the moment when, in his judgment, it would be most safe to
launch the whaleboats. Not a man in the two boats spoke even in a
whisper. They had cast aside their storm clothes, bein