"Hear that, my lads?" shouted Dance, "and me to have handled a hitcher
all these years, and never to have thought of it. Boat's righted,
messmates, now; only, by your leave, sir, if you'd let me try, I think I
could do it easier than you."

"Try then, my lad," said the lieutenant; and, getting hold of the hook,
the coxswain moved into the centre on one side as the crew seized the
keel and dragged it down, while the man, boathook in hand, climbed up,
finding good foothold on the clinker-built boat, steadying himself with
his pole as he worked. At last he stood upright on the side of the
keel, reached over and fixed his hook upon one of the rowlocks; then
holding on firmly by the pole and pressing his feet against the keel, he
hung right away, his body now forming so heavy a balance-weight that
upon the men making a simultaneous effort to draw the boat over, she
came down more and more. Then with a sudden lurch the resistance
against them was overcome, and she came right over to an even keel,
plunging Dance into the water, from which he rose spitting and
sputtering, to begin swimming back amidst a hearty burst of cheers.

CHAPTER SIX.

ALONE ON THE OCEAN.

"All very fine for you, my lads," grumbled the coxswain, "but see what a
wetting I got."

"Vandean, my lad," whispered the lieutenant, "that idea of yours saved
us," and he caught and pressed the lad's cold hand. Then aloud: "Now,
my lads, get the oars in under the thwarts, so that they don't float
out, and then you, Dance, and you, Tom Fillot, in over the side and
begin baling."

The boat was floating with its gunwale level with the water, and the two
men had only to press the side a bit and literally roll in, to squat
down and begin baling; for, to the great delight of all, it was found
that the locker in the bows was unopened, though full of water, and a
couple of tin balers were fished out from amidst some tackle. Directly
after, working with all their might, the men began to make the water fly
out in showers.

Meanwhile the oars were collected and thrust down into the boat beneath
the thwarts, along with the hitcher, and the rest of the little crew
held on by the gunwale outside.

For a time this seemed to remain level with the surface, but the two
balers toiled so hard that in a short time the lieutenant turned to
Mark, and said shortly--"In with you."

The lad looked at him in wonder, but junior officers have to obey, and
he crept in over t