That it would aid greatly in the ship's progress Steve did not expect, but it would, he figured, make steering easier.

Then the cruiser's heaviest anchor cables were taken aboard and made fast at the bow.

A "prize crew" consisting of Joe, Han and Perry, from the _Adventurer_, and Wink and Bert, from the _Follow Me_, was placed in charge and enough food for two meals supplied them.

The galley stove was still in running order, although it reeked of grease, and there was a fair supply of wood handy.

Bert Alley, who had volunteered to do the cooking, objected to an inch or so of water that swashed around the floor, but the others pulled a pair of old rubber boots from a chest in the forecastle and he became reconciled.