The pilot-house was empty, but Harvey, the negro engineer,
leaned, elbows crossed against the sill of his little square door,
smoking his pipe.
"I wouldn't go out there for a million dollars!" cried a man
excitedly to Carroll and Bradford. "Nothing on earth could live in
that sea! Nothing! I've run a tug myself in my time, and I know
what I'm talking about!"
"What are they going to do?" asked Carroll.
"Haven't you heard!" cried the other, turning to her. "Where you
been? This is one of Orde's tugs, and she's going to try to get a
line to them vessels. But I wouldn't--"
Bradford did not wait for him to finish. He turned abruptly, and
with an air of authority brushed toward the tug, followed closely by
Carroll and Mina. At the edge of the pier was the tug's captain,
Marsh, listening to earnest expostulation by a half-dozen of the
leading men of the town, among whom were both Newmark and Orde.
As the three came within earshot Captain Marsh spit forth the stump
of cigar he had been chewing.
"Gentlemen," said he crisply, "that isn't the question. I think I
can do it; and I'm entirely willing to take all personal risks. The
thing is hazardous and it's Mr. Orde's tug. It's for him to say
whether he wants to risk her.
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