There was a moment of silence, and then the mate's
voice came out quite impassively, but distinctly:--
"'Fernandez!'
"'Aye, aye, sir!'
"'Come aft and--bring your oar with you.'
"He did so, stumbling over the men, who, engaged in their whispered
yarns, didn't seem to notice him.
"'See if you can find soundings here.'
"Fernandez leaned over the stern and dropped his oar to its shaft
in the phosphorescent water. But he touched no bottom; the current
brought the oar at right angles presently to the surface.
"'Send it down, man,' said the mate, imperatively; 'down, down.
Reach over there. What are you afraid of? So; steady there; I'll
hold you.'
"Fernandez leaned over the stern and sent the oar and half of his
bared brown arm into the water. In an instant the mate caught him
with one tremendous potential grip at his elbows, and forced him
and his oar head downward in the waters. The act was so sudden,
yet so carefully premeditated, that no outcry escaped the doomed
man. Even the launch scarcely dipped her stern to the act.
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