and presently the tender acquired a motion reminiscent of the rocking horses of childhood.
“The rope’s becoming loose,” Mr. Talliaferro called in a warning tone.
“Pull,” Fairchild urged them, gritting his teeth. Mark Frost groaned dismally and released one hand to fan it across his face.
“Its still loose,” Mr. Talliaferro said after a time.
“She must be moving then,” Fairchild panted.
“Maybe it’s because we aren’t singing,” Mrs. Wiseman suggested presently, resting on her oar. “Don’t you know any deep sea chanteys, Dawson?”
“Let Julius sing: he ain’t doing anything,” Fairchild answered. “Pull, you devils!”
Mr. Talliaferro shrieked suddenly: “She’s moving! She’s moving!”
They all ceased rowing to stare at the yacht. Sure enough, she was swinging slowly across their stern. “She’s moving!” Mr. Talliaferro screamed again, waving his arms. Mrs. Maurier responded madly from the deck of the yacht with her handkerchief; beyond her, the three men sat motionless and casual. “Why don’t the fools start the engine?” Fairchild gasped. “Pull!” he roared.
They dipped their oars with new life, flailing the water like mad. The yacht swung slowly; soon she was pointing her prow seaward of them, and continued to swing slowly around. “She’s coming off, she’s coming off,” Mr. Talliaferro chanted in a thin falsetto, his voice breaking, fairly dancing up and down. Mrs. Maurier was shrieking also, waving her handkerchief. “She’s coming off,” Mr. Talliaferro chanted, standing erect and clutching Jenny’s shoulder. “Pull! Pull!”
“All together,” Fairchild gasped and the crew repeated it, flailing the water. The yacht was almost broadside to
