“She’s been worth a power of money, Mr. Quick,” commented Captain Chisholm, “to say nothing of the cargo in her. I guess I’ll just slip over myself and see what sort of a chance there is of doing anything with her. She’s been in collision during a gale, and the boat that hit her probably took the men off. We’re within twenty-four hours’ run of Charleston. A salvage job like this would just tickle me to death. If it can possibly be done, Mr. Mate, I’m going to try it.” The captain’s inspection of the derelict was not so lengthy. “There’s a sporting chance of getting her into dock,” he announced as he climbed back onto the _Pacific Queen_, “but there isn’t a minute to lose. We must get the pumps to work immediately. It will be tricky work, because she may sink like a stone when she does go. Now, Mr. Quick, get that new manila hawser bent on to her, and look alive there. You’ll want a dozen men on her. Better take only volunteers, as it’s risky.” Volunteers were ready enough. Dave moved forward to join them, but Barnes pulled him back by the ear. “That’s work for men, not babies, didn’t I tell you?” he said. “Besides, who d’you s’pose is going to wash the dishes on this packet if you go and get drownded? It’s no use me askin’ the cap’n to do it, and I’m sure I won’t. Yon is a death-trap, lad. It’s a desperate chance to make big money, and, mark my words, they’ll hang on to the last minute. We’ll get our share of the salvage money just the same, so stop where you are. Blow you, anyway; you’re more trouble than you’re worth!” In the next few minutes Dave learnt what real hustling at sea was. Mr. Quick knew the art of driving men in an emergency, and in an incredibly short time the derelict was pulling heavily behind the _Pacific Queen_ at the end of the long hawser, and looking strangely awkward with her heavy list. Mr. Quick’s task was a formidable one, but he set about it with grim determination, for the prize was one well worth having. There was a ground swell running, but no water was coming inboard; so after having hand pumps rigged up and setting four men to work at top speed on these, he had the hatches ripped off. As he had surmised, the cargo had shifted badly, and that was what made her lean over so perilously. Bales, boxes, and merchandise of all kinds were lying in indescribable confusion, and it was a Herculean task to get the hold anything like ship-shape without the aid of steam-winches. Mr. Quick, however, threw off his coat and worked as hard as any of the men. The derelict was not in imminent danger of turning turtle so long as the sea did not grow worse, but there was always the danger of a strong wind getting up suddenly.