Part 40 (2/2)
”Didn't soak the color out of your hair, did it, red-head?”
”No; all fast colors, warranted not to run,” retorted Sam quickly.
In the meantime, Dan Davis was standing up in the little wherry making efforts to attract the attention of the battles.h.i.+p. At last he succeeded in doing so.
”Mine number six gone overboard,” he wig-wagged.
”How much water?” asked the battles.h.i.+p.
”Three and a half fathoms.”
”Ask for orders,” commanded the officer in charge.
”Orders?” signaled Dan.
”Wherry lay to, to locate the mine. All other boats come in.”
”I understand,” answered Dan.
”Signaling again, sir,” informed Dan.
”What do they say?”
”They have ordered that the signalman from the whaleboat number two remain here in the wherry, sir.”
”Very well, call the signalman from whaleboat number two. We shall have this wherry so heavily loaded that she'll sink if we get in much of a seaway.”
Dan wig-wagged with his sound hand to the whaleboat, giving the orders to Hickey to join him in the wherry. The officer in charge of the whaleboat grumbled at being thus obliged to turn back and travel some distance to reach the wherry. The latter had by this time cast out an anchor so as to hold the boat in place near the spot where the mine had gone down.
”What is this for?” demanded Sam, clambering over into the wherry, his clothes still wet and dripping.
”I did not think best to ask the captain for his reasons for giving the orders,” answered Dan, with a meaning smile.
”I didn't mean that. Look out, the s.h.i.+p is making signals. Why don't you tend to your business?” demanded Sam.
Dan's spygla.s.s quickly went to his eye. He lowered the gla.s.s after a moment, turning to the officer in command of the wherry.
”Diver coming out to go down for the mine, sir.”
”Very good. I knew they would send out a diver.”
”Is he going to dive for it?” questioned Sam, a new interest showing in his eyes.
”Yes; he will go down in one of those diving suits we saw on deck this morning. Did you never see a diver at work?”
”Never,” answered Sam. ”I should like to.”
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