He was now running forward to take the bridge beside the watch officer.
The midshipmen, too, hurried forward, mingling with the crew, as the big battleship swung around and tried to find her wake.
The flagship had crowded on extra steam, and was fast coming over the seas.
With such a sea running, it was well nigh impossible to make out so small a thing as a head or a life-preserver, unless it could be observed at the instant when it crested a wave.
Marine glasses were in use by every officer who had brought his pair to the deck.

Others rushed back to their cabins to get them.
A lieutenant of the marine corps stood forward, close to a big group of sorrowing midshipmen.
"There are certain to be three vacancies in the Naval Academy," remarked the lieutenant.
"Don't say that, sir," begged Farley, in a choking voice.

"The three overboard are among the finest fellows in the brigade!" "I don't want to discourage any of you young gentlemen," continued the marine corps lieutenant.

"But there's just about one chance in a thousand that we shall be able to sight and pick up any one of the unlucky three.

In the first place, it would take a wonderful swimmer to live long in such a furious sea.