gasped.

With one final supreme effort he threw the weight of White's body from
him, and, rolling over, wrapped his arms about the Hawaiian, crushing
the fellow down with all his strength.

CHAPTER XIV

ORDERED TO THE SICK BAY

A light came dancing over the long, even swells, sending up a shower of
spray as it smashed into the white crests of the swells.

It was whaleboat number one from the battleship.

"Sing out!" commanded the officer in charge of the boat.

"Dinghy, ahoy!" shouted the seaman who was standing braced in the bow
of the whaleboat, scanning the waters ahead.

There was no response to his hail.

The seaman put down the megaphone that he had been using, and, raising
his telescope, swept the waters.

"Boat, sir, two points off the port bow," sang the lookout.

"Coxswain, lay your course two points to port."

"Aye, aye, sir."

The whaleboat headed for the speck that the lookout had made out
through his glass. In a few minutes the whaleboat had drawn up
alongside.

"She's empty, sir."

"Do you make out the other boat?"

"No, sir."

"I think I see her," said the officer. "Train your glass dead abeam to
starboard."

"Yes, sir, that's the other dinghy. She's drifting."

"Then something has happened to those men. Lay to, men. Pull for all
you're worth. They may be drowning while we are lying here. Coxswain,
look alive."

"Aye, aye, sir."

The oars hit the water as one, and the heavy, sharp-pointed whaleboat
sprang away, taking a long leap over the waves with every powerful
stroke of the oars.

"Her side is stove in, I think, sir," announced the lookout.

The officer in charge made no reply. He was gazing at the bobbing
dinghy through his night glasses.

"Steady there, coxswain. We don't want to run her down. Come up on
the lee side and draw in slowly. She rides as if she were loaded. We
shall find men aboard the dinghy, unless I am much mistaken."

They drew alongside slowly.

"Out boat hooks!"

The whaleboat made fast to the drifting dinghy. No sooner had they
done so than the officer leaped lightly aboard.

"Here they are. Lend a hand here, men. Be careful you don't upset
her. The dinghy is half full of water."

Willing hands quickly transferred Dan Davis and the two Hawaiians to
the whaleboat. Dan was half unconscious, while his two prisoners were
wholly so.

"Take the dinghy in tow. Pick up the other one on your way, but be
quick. Seaman Davi