"I don't care what you say--I know what you are!" she rejoined. "You are
a brave man, Captain Mayo. I thank you!"
"Not yet! Not until--"
"Yes, now! You have set me a good example. When folks are scared they
should not sit down and whimper!"
He reached and found a plump little fist which she had doubled into a
real knob of decision.
"Good work, little girl! Your kind of grit is helping me." He released
her hand and crawled forward.
"This ain't helping us any," complained Captain Candage. "I know what's
going to happen to us. As soon as it gets daylight a cussed coast-guard
cutter will come snorting along and blow us up without bothering to find
out what is under this turkle-shell."
"Say, look here, Candage," called Captain Mayo, angrily, "that's enough
of that talk! There's a-plenty happening to us as it is, without your
infernal driveling about what may happen."
"Isn't it about time for a real man to help Captain Mayo instead of
hindering him?" asked the girl. Evidently her new composure startled her
father.
"Ain't you scared any more, Polly? You ain't losing your mind, are you?"
"No, I have it back again, I hope."
"Your daughter is setting you a good example, Captain Candage. Now let's
get down to business, sir! What's your sheathing on the ribs?"
"Inch and a half spruce, if I remember right."
"I take it she is ribbed about every twelve inches."
"Near's I remember."
"All right! Swarm forward here, the three of you, and have those tools
handy as I need 'em."
He had brought the hammer and chisel in his reefer pockets, and set at
work on the sheathing over his head, having picked by touch and sense
of locality a section which he considered to be nearly amidship. It
was blind effort, but he managed to knock away a few square feet of the
spruce boarding after a time.
"Hand me that saw, whoever has it."
A hand came fumbling to his in the dark and gave him the tool. He began
on one of the oak ribs, uncovered when the boarding had been removed.
It was difficult and tedious work, for he could use only the tip of the
saw, because the ribs were so close together. But he toiled on steadily,
and at last the sound of his diligence appeared to animate the others.
When he rested for a moment Captain Candage offered to help with the
sawing.