"Well, come on then. No use in delay," said Captain Marsh.
The four men from the life-saving service dropped aboard. The five
then went over the tug from stem to stern, tossing aside all
movables, and lashing tight all essentials. From the pilot-house
Captain Marsh distributed life preservers. Harvey declined his.
"Whaf-for I want dat?" he inquired. "Lots of good he gwine do me
down here!"
Then all hatches were battened down. Captain Marsh reached up to
shake the hand which Orde, stooping, offered him.
"I'll try to bring her back all right, sir," said he.
"To hell with the tug!" cried Orde, impatient at this insistence on
the mere property aspect. "Bring yourself back."
Captain Marsh deliberately lit another cigar and entered the pilot-
house with the other men.
"Cast off!" he cried; and the silent crowd heard clearly the single
sharp bell ringing for attention, and then the "jangler" that called
for full speed ahead. Awed, they watched the tiny sturdy craft move
out into the stream and point to the fury of the open lake.
"Brave chaps! Brave chaps!" said Dr. McMullen to Carroll as they
turned away. The physician drew his tall slender figure to its
height. "Brave chaps, every one of them.
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