Butts,
who, by this time, looked more like some water-logged thing than a
natty steward.

"Come on below to the sail-locker," roared Captain Tom in the other
boy's ear. "Be careful to hold to the life lines and go slow when the
boat heels over. We'll get the new sail out and rig it--if we can."

Hepton, seeing them coming, made a sign to Joe, who stood doggedly
braced at the wheel. Joe did all he could--it was little enough--to
swing the boat's head a trifle so that she would ride more easily, if
possible, in that terrible sea.

Slowly Tom and Hank made their way to the motor room door and slipped
down below. There Powell Seaton, his face white, confronted them.

"Captain, this is awful. I don't see how the 'Restless' rides such a
sea at all."

"She'd not only ride but steer well, sir, if we had gasoline enough to
run her by her propellers," Halstead shouted back. "I'd go all the way
to Havana in a gale like this if I could use the twin propellers. The
'Restless' is a sea boat, and she can't sink unless the watertight
compartments are smashed."

"But she can turn over and ride keel upward, can't she?" demanded Mr.
Seaton, with a ghastly grin.

"She can, sir, if she heels enough," Tom admitted. "But that's why
Joe's at the wheel--because we need a fellow who can make the most out
of such headway as the force of wind and waves gives us. And now, sir,
Hank and I must try to rig a new sail."

Out of the sail-locker they dragged the new canvas. It was all in
readiness for rigging. In calm weather they could have done this
readily--but now? Only time could tell.

"Lend 'em a hand, Hepton!" roared Joe, as he saw the young captain and
helper appear with the bulky canvas.

It was all the three of them could do, in the rolling, high seas in
which the "Restless" pitched like a chip of wood, to get that sail on
top of the cabin deck-house. Bit by bit they rigged it in place,
working fast, straining muscle and sinew to hold the sail against the
gale that strove to carry the canvas overboard. At last, they had it
in place, ready for hoisting.

"Stand by to hoist," sang out Captain Tom. "The two of you. Go slow!
I'll watch for trouble as you shake it out."

All the reefs had been taken in the sail before hoisting. Tom Halstead
had made up his mind to be satisfied with just a showing of canvas to
catch the high wind--enough to keep the boat steady.

As the sail went up, flapping wildly in the breeze, Halstead began to