And at this moment,
that the skipper might know their meaning, a couple of hands jumped aft
and let go the weather main-braces. I took care to keep my eyes on
Coxon and the mate, fully prepared for any attack that one or both
might make on me. Duckling eyed me furiously but in silence, evidently
baffled by my resolute air and the position of the men. Then he said
something to the captain, who looked exhausted and white and haggard
with his useless passion. They walked over to the lee side of the
poop; and after a short conference, the captain to my surprise went
below, and Duckling came forward.
"There's no objection," he said, "to your saving the man's life, if you
want. Lower away the starboard quarter-boat,--and you go along in
her," he added to me, uttering the last words in such a thick voice
that I thought he was choking.
"Come along, some of you!" I cried out, hastily putting on my coat; and
in less than a minute I was in the boat with the rudder and thole-pins
shipped, and four hands ready to out oars as soon as we touched the
water.
Duckling began to fumble at one end of the boat's falls.
"Don't let him lower away!" roared out one of the men in the boat.
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