a capstan bar, and many a hearty "Yo, heave
ho!" they levered the plank out over the side till Adolphe's weight
tilted it up, and he soused into the water.

For a moment he disappeared, then he rose spluttering and choking, sank
again, found his footing, and stood up, roaring like a flabbergasted
bull. Captain Hildebrand lay quietly down on the deck, and writhed and
kicked in spasms of racking mirth; but his trusty lieutenant, after
laughing a while, looked grave, and said, "The poor man will take cold."

"I have no sympathy with drunkards," said Captain Hildebrand with cold
severity; but he rose, and, going forward, by kicking Alphonse hard and
freely in the ribs, roused him from his dream of the lass who loved a
sailor, and said, "Adolphe has fallen overboard."

It took some time for the information to penetrate Alphonse's skull.
When it did, he was all vivid alertness, staggered swiftly aft to the
gangway, and in rather less than five seconds, with no conspicuous
agility, had precipitated himself into Adolphe's arms. They rose,
clinging to one another, and both roared like bulls, while the
shrieking Tinker danced lightly round the deck.

Presently he recovered enough to throw them a rope, and they climbed on
board: no difficult feat, seeing that the deck was not two feet above
their heads. Before they thought of the yacht they went to the
forecastle and changed their wet clothes, while the dusk deepened.
Tinker went to the galley, and made tea. He had brought it to the
cabin, and he and Elsie were making a well-earned and hearty meal, and
discoursing with gusto of their blood-dyed career during the afternoon,
when Alphonse, very sad and glum, came and told them that the yacht was
aground, and Adolphe was getting up full steam to get her off. Tinker
with great readiness said he would come up and help.

In half an hour he heard the rattle of the propeller, and, coming on
deck, said he would go to the bows while Alphonse took the wheel, and
Adolphe worked the engines.

He went right forward, and peered into the darkness. Adolphe set the
engines going full speed, reversed, and Tinker cried, "She's moving!"

He saw the anchor chain slowly tauten, then the _Petrel_ moved no more.
The propeller thrashed away, but to no purpose, and to his great joy he
was sure that the anchor held her. However, he cheered them on to
persevere, and for nearly half an hour the propeller thrashed away.
Then they gave it up, sat