Part 44 (1/2)
Sam grabbed the rope from the hands of his companion, but Dan suddenly s.n.a.t.c.hed it away again, observing that his companion was getting weak.
”Can you take care of yourself?”
”Yes,” replied Sam faintly.
The next time the line was cast from the steamer, Davis grabbed it, and with his burden was quickly hauled alongside the plunging steamer.
Willing hands grabbed the lad, dragging him aboard and then began a frantic effort to pull up the drowning diver. Kester was hauled over the steamer's side a few seconds later.
The helmet was jerked from the head of the diver in wonderfully quick time, and then began a hurried effort to restore him to consciousness.
”Sam! Sam! Where is Sam?” cried Dan wildly.
For the first time they noticed that the red-headed boy was not on board.
”There! There! He's sinking!”
Dan made a rush to leap overboard.
”Hold him!” cried the ensign.
Two sailors fastened upon the Battles.h.i.+p Boy at the instant he was about to take the plunge.
”Keep working on Kester, and don't let the boy get away. I hold you responsible for him.”
The ensign cleared the rail with a bound, leaping far out into the boiling sea, but Dan had not observed it. Giving a sudden tug, the boy freed himself from his companions. He was overboard in a twinkling. A boathook hauled him back, protesting and fighting to get away.
”The ensign is over. No need for you to go.”
It was the same ensign who had rebuked Sam earlier in the day, and against whom the lad had taken a sudden and violent dislike on that account.
”Full speed ahead,” commanded the c.o.xswain of the little steamer.
”Steady there, helmsman; don't run them down.”
A desperate struggle followed amid the smas.h.i.+ng seas. By this time the steamer was hard by.
”Cast a rope,” commanded the c.o.xswain. A coil shot through the air, landing over the ensign's shoulder. He fastened upon it instantly, and a few moments later was drawn slowly to the steamer, one hand clinging to Hickey's red hair. The two men were hauled aboard in a half-drowned condition. Dan was the worst off of the three, however. He was not only suffering from broken bones but he had been under water for a long time.
He was barely able to speak now. His face was pale and drawn and his legs seemed unable to support him.
The first act of the ensign upon getting aboard, was to spring over to where Kester lay stretched out in the bottom of the steamer, the men still working over him, applying the methods that they had learned at the training station. Some of the men had been through the experience before and knew what to do.
”Is he dead?” questioned the officer.
”No, sir, I think not. See, the color is coming into his cheeks.”
The ensign drew a deep breath of relief.
”Gangway! Let me have a hand, lads,” he cried.
But the men stood fast.