“Shall I leave Mr. Frisbone and the ladies to perish on the wreck?” asked the captain mildly. “I have already given you permission to bring them on board of the Tritonia. You may still do that,” replied the senior professor. “But the ladies decline to get into the boat while the sea is so rough.” “Is it possible to get the ladies into the boat, Mr. Marline?” asked the professor, turning to the boatswain. “I suppose we could hoist them into the boat by main force; but they said they preferred to drown where they were, rather than slide down on a rope into the cutter,” replied the boatswain, rather doggedly. “If we can save the steamer we ought to do it, in my judgment.” “We have nothing to do with saving the vessel. We are not out upon the ocean for any such purpose.” “Just as your honor pleases.” “If the ladies will not get into the boat, you must either force them to do so, or leave them where they are,” added Mr. Primback. Wainwright said nothing more. It could make no difference to him if the senior professor did forbid any further action towards the saving of the steamer. His action was approved by all the other adults on board; and he was confident that the officers and seamen would obey his orders, possibly with greater readiness than if the head of the scholastic department had not forbidden them to do so. The Tritonia had filled away again on the return of the second cutter from the wreck. By this time it was necessary to come about again, and stand towards the steamer. Wainwright politely notified Mr. Primback that the vessel was about to “go in stays;” hoping that he would retire to the cabin, and permit him to finish the business of the hour. “Go in stays! Will you ever speak English, Wainwright? Do you mean to insult me by using that gibberish to me when I have forbidden you to do so?” “That is the proper nautical expression for what we are about to do,” replied the captain. “Do you mean that you are going to turn the vessel?” “That is substantially what we intend to do; but sailors would not understand me if I called it turning the vessel.” “Do you presume to instruct me in the use of language, Wainwright?” “By no means, sir; but I use nautical language as I was instructed to use it by Mr. Lowington and the other instructors in seamanship and navigation.--Mr. Greenwood, let the vessel go in stays,” continued the captain, turning to the first lieutenant. “Man the fore and main sheets!” called the executive officer. “Ease down the helm!” As the vessel came up into the wind in obedience to her helm, the fore and main sheet began to bang and thrash as the pressure was removed. “Haul in on the sheets,” called the first lieutenant; and the order was repeated by the other officers in charge of the sheets.