Ship the handspikes, my men." Doubtless all of them had worked a windlass before, for every one of them was an able seaman, which had been one of the elements in their selection, and they went to work very handily.

A turn or two was given, which started the vessel ahead, showing that the anchor was not hove entirely short.

Graines went to the bow, and reported a considerable slant of the cable with the surface of the water.

Christy ordered the six seamen to work the windlass, with French to take in the slack.

They continued to heave over with the handspikes for some time longer.
"Cable up and down, sir," reported Graines.
"Avast heaving!" added the lieutenant; and he had taken the command, paying no attention to the fact that he was the second mate under the new order of things, and the engineer did not remind him that he was the chief officer.