“Why, swing aboard by our dory taykles. When we roll down and our mastheads are ’most over her deck, a man can let go and drop off.” “And suppose a man misses?” Crump put the question like a lecturer in front of a class. “He must’nt miss--unless he’s an A1 swimmer. If he----” “O Skipper, they’re making ready to put over a boat from the tug!” “The devil--tryin’ to steal our prize! Get a move on, fellows! If they’re half-way smart they’ll beat us out, and you know marine law--whoever puts the first man aboard c’n claim salvage rights. We got to beat ’em, Sam, and that dory-taykle scheme’s not quick enough. How’ll we do it now?” “If you’re good and careful I’ll try the main-boom jump. But you got to be careful--in this sea, Skipper.” “All right. Sail around her again,” called Crump to the wheelsman. “Now, fellows, when she’s comin’ afore it let her main sheet run to the knot, and put the boom taykle to her and be sure to choke it up hard and tight. This no place for accidents.” Which they did, and as the _Buccaneer_ came flying down toward the stern of the bark, Sam Leary ran out on the boom, which was then at right angles to her rail, leaning against the sail as he ran. At the end of the boom he gathered himself for the leap. “Steady, Skipper--you know what it means if I miss.” “Trust me, Sammie.” Crump held the wheel, and in the touch of his hand was the full genius of steering. “Trust me, Sammie,” he repeated, while Sam again gathered himself, and from under the stern of the bark, the _Buccaneer_ lifting to a sea, he made the jump. It was a lesson in helpfulness to see, at the psychological moment, the entire crew’s arms unconsciously raised to waft him on. Sam’s feet hit the icy rail, and away he went, skating half the length of her quarter and coming down--bam! on the seat of his oilskins. “Hurt you, Sammie?” came sympathetic voices from the deck of the _Buccaneer_. “Never jarred me,” affirmed Sam, and waved his hand at the discomfited master of the tugboat. “Yes,” commented Crump, looking over to the tug, “that does for _his_ salvage. And now I’ll put her alongside, Sammie, and we’ll try your dory-taykle scheme.” When Crump had his tackles rigged he called out: “I’ll hoist the men up and let ’em drop aboard. Only you run an end of a halyard from the bark, Sammie, to haul ’em well inboard.” “And tell ’em what I said about not missing, Skipper.” “I’ll give ’em written instructions,” said Crump to that. “Just like putting fish out on the dock, ain’t it?” hallooed the first man, while he was still in the air. Down he came--plump! and his teeth rattled when he hit the upheaving deck. “Hurry up, a few more of you, and help to put out the fire here--this no place for jokes.” When he had seven men, Sam waved an arm to Crump. “No more, no more, Skipper.” “But me, Skipper, me!” appealed every individual one of those left behind. “No.”