"Will you go with the captain, or stay on the Nantucket?" asked Harry.
"Really, I couldn't stand sailing in a little boat, you know."
"That's settled, then!" said the captain. "Into the boats with you!"
The sailors and two passengers lowered themselves into the long boat,
which was large enough to receive them all, till only Jack Pendleton
and the captain remained.
"Get in, boy!" said the captain, harshly.
Jack stepped back, and said, manfully: "I will remain on board the
ship, sir."
While this discussion had been going on, the boat was being stored
with kegs of water and provisions, and soon after the sailors began to
ply the oars.
The little band that remained looked silently and solemnly, as they
saw their late companions borne farther and farther away from them on
the crested waves.
"It's a question which will last longer, the ship or the boat," said
Mr. Holdfast.
"We must work--I know that," said Mr. Stubbs. "Captain Holdfast, I
salute you as my commander. Give us your orders."
"Are you all agreed, gentlemen?" asked Holdfast.
"We are," answered all except Montgomery Clinton, who was clinging to
the side with a greenish pallor on his face.
"Then I shall set you to work at the pumps. Jack I assign you and the
professor to duty first.
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