"The poor, unfortunate fellow! He won't really attempt to drown
himself, will he, if he doesn't find his young woman friend?"
inquired Mrs. Meade.
"No," Dave answered without turning. "And we wouldn't allow him
to do so, either."
Dave waited but a brief interval, this time. Then, as Midshipman
Gray did not reappear, he called:
"Danby!"
"Yes, sir," replied the enlisted man by the engine.
"Hustle forward and rig a rope loop to the anchor cable. How
long is the anchor?"
"About three feet, sir."
"Then rig the loop two feet above the mudhook."
"Yes, sir."
"Hustle!"
"Yes, sir."
"Is Gray trying to stay under? Trying to drown himself as a sign
of his repentance?" whispered Wolgast in Dave's ear. But Darrin
shook his head. An instant later Gray shot up to the surface---alone!
"Come aboard," ordered Dave Darrin, but he did not rely entirely
on coaxing. Snatching up a boat-hook he fastened it in Gray's
collar and drew that midshipman alongside, where many ready hands
stretched out and hauled him aboard.
Two of the rescued young women were now sobbing almost hysterically.
"If you won't let me stay in the water, won't some of the rest of
you do something?" demanded Midshipman Gray hoarsely.
"We're going to," nodded Dave. "Danby!"
"Yes, sir."
"Let go the anchor."
"Very good, sir."
"Follow me, Dan," directed Dave. The anchor went overboard while
the two midshipmen were hustling forward.
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