_."
He, too, knew of Cap'n Abe's supposed voyage on the seaweed ship.

The oarsmen read the word upon the skipper's lips rather than heard his
voice. Two, at least, were shocked by the announcement--Lawford and
the storekeeper. There was no opportunity for comment upon this wonder.

Skillfully the lifeboat was brought around under the lee of the wreck.
Already most of her crew had crept down to the rail and were waiting,
half submerged, to drop into the lifeboat. But one figure was still
visible high up in the shrouds.

When the waves sucked out from under her the keel of the lifeboat
almost scratched the reef. Then it rose on a swell to the very rail of
the wreck, wedged so tightly on the rock.

The castaways came inboard rapidly, bringing their injured skipper with
them. The lifeboat was quickly overburdened with human freight.

"No more! No more!" shouted Cap'n Trainor. "We'll have to make
another trip."

"Where's the professor? Bring down the professor! There he is!"
yelled the mate of the _Curlew_, who had given his attention to the
injured master of the wrecked craft. "Who lashed him fast up there?"

There was a movement forward. The storekeeper had got up and pulled a
stout-armed member of the _Curlew's_ crew into his place.

"Take my oar!" commanded Cap'n Abe. "I got a niece--he's her father.
Hi-mighty! I just got to get him aboard!"

With an agility that belied his years he leaped for the schooner's rail
as the next surge rose. He swarmed inboard and started up the shrouds.
Those below remained silent while he climbed.

He reached the helpless man, whipped out his knife, cut the lashings.
Slight as the storekeeper seemed, his muscles were of steel. As though
the half-conscious professor were a child, he lowered him to the
slanting deck.

"Only room for one o' you!" roared Cap'n Trainor. "Only one! We're
overloaded as 'tis. Better wait."

"You'll take _him_!" shouted Cap'n Abe, and dropped his burden at
Lawford Tapp's feet.

The next moment the lifeboat shot away from the side of the wreck,
leaving the Man Who Was Afraid marooned upon her deck.

That was a perilous journey for the overladen boat. Only the good
management of Cap'n Trainor could have brought her safely to shore.
And when she banged upon the beach it was almost a miracle that she did
not start all her bottom boards.

Many willing hands hauled the heavy boat up upon the sands. The
rescued crew of the schooner t