Besides, she will soon repair her extra wheel, and have it ready for use.

I am inclined to believe that we are wasting time, which will make it all the worse for us in the end," reasoned the commander.

"I am prepared to board her, for I think she must have lost a great many men." "No doubt of it, sir," added the lieutenant.
"Lay her aboard on the port side, and have everything ready," continued Captain Breaker.
Christy gave the necessary orders for this decided action, and the officers and the crew seemed to be delighted with the prospect of a hand-to-hand fight with the enemy.

The lieutenant was not wholly confident that the commander was right in his reasoning, but like a loyal officer and a true sailor who knows no duty but obedience, he heartily supported his superior.

He walked the deck in the discharge of his duty; but he was thinking of something since the order to board had been given.
"Is there anything like a flank movement in boarding, Captain Breaker ?" he asked, as he halted at the side of the commander.
"Of course the officers do their best to flank the enemy after they reach the deck," replied the captain, looking with some astonishment at the lieutenant.
"I have reference to another sort of flanking," added the inquirer.
"Of course in a squadron some of the ships may be ordered to operate in that manner; but a single ship acting against another can hardly do any flanking." "But I mean in boarding." "You had better explain yourself a little more definitely, for I do not understand you," replied the commander with a puzzled expression on his face.
"We have one hundred and twenty men, with six absent on other duty," continued the lieutenant.