The men in the cutter pulled very quietly, and hardly splashed the water with their oars, for they had all been trained by Christy himself to pull without noise when he was executive officer.
This was the first responsible position Mr.Pennant had been called upon to fill, and he knew that his future depended in a large measure upon the skill and fidelity with which he obeyed his orders.

His crew believed in him, and they were very painstaking in their efforts to work in silence.

He had stationed quartermaster Vincent in the bow of the boat as the lookout, and he was industriously peering out into the gloom of the fog and darkness to discover a vessel or a boat.

He had heard the sounds himself, and he knew there was something there.

When the boat had pulled about fifteen minutes, Vincent raised his hand up into the air; this was a signal which the third lieutenant understood, for he had arranged several of them with the quartermaster.
"Stand by to lay on your oars," said Mr.Pennant in the lowest tones that could be heard by the crew.