"Half speed astern with both engines!" commanded the captain. "Stand by to lower, Mr. Staples!" Again the signal levers swung, and the executive called out, "Stand by to lower, Mr. Liddon, as soon as we stop backing!" The ship slowed down, trembling under the reversed strokes of the powerful screw and rolling sheets of white foam from beneath each quarter. "Stop both engines!" ordered Dave. "Stop, sir!" "Lower away, Mr. Staples!" "Lower away, sir!" and an instant later the boat sank to the water, was detached, and was pulling rapidly toward the swimmer, who, when first abandoned by the junk, had paddled about irresolutely, but was now making his way steadily toward the boat. "It's a negro, fast enough," observed Staples, gazing through his binoculars. "He's as black as the ace of spades." "Give her half-speed, Mr. Staples," directed Rexdale, whose whole mind was now on the management of his ship, "and come round to pick them up!" Again the signal jingled in the engine-room, and the ship, with helm a-starboard, circled round the lifeboat. "Up oars! Shove off!" commanded Starr in low tones, as soon as the boat had detached itself from the patent hooks. "Let fall!" The orders were repeated sharply by the coxswain, the oars dropped into the rowlocks, and were brought level with the rail, with blades horizontal. "Give way together!" and away went the boat on its errand of mercy, foaming over the choppy sea, toward the struggling swimmer. "Way enough!" ordered the midshipman, as they approached the black, woolly head bobbing about in the water. Bob stood up in the stern-sheets, as the boat lost its headway. Suddenly a look of wonder came into his face, succeeded by a suppressed chuckle, to the amazement of the men, no one of whom, however, broke discipline by turning his head. "In bows!" called the coxswain, in response to Starr's order. "Stand by there, to pull the man in! Hold water! Stern all!" Again a ripple of amusement shot over the midshipman's jolly face, which grew red in his attempts to suppress his emotions. The next moment the bow oarsman reached down and with a great effort pulled the dripping castaway in over the side. A roar of laughter rang out from the boat's crew. "A dog! A big Newfoundland!" exclaimed the coxswain, as the animal, sinking down in the bottom of the boat with a low whine, gave himself a shake that sent the water flying over the men. "Shall we throw him over again, sir?" "No, no," laughed Bob, resuming his seat. "He's too fine an animal to drown. Get back to the ship. That's enough, men! Silence!" Rexdale, Staples, and Liddon had already made out the character of the supposed "man overboard," and were shaking with laughter when Bob returned. The duty remained, however, of hoisting the boat and resuming the course to Chemulpo. "Lead along and man the lifeboat's falls!" shouted the executive.