"I guess I shall be hungry when I get it fully through my head that I'm safe," laughed the rescued one. "Just at present I'd rather go below and warm myself."
Ab blew his mate's whistle for the third seaman of the watch.
"My man," he directed, "take this man down to the motor room. Tell Mr. Randolph it will be all right for Mr.----"
"Cragthorpe is my name," supplied the stranger.
"Tell Mr. Randolph it will be all right for Mr. Cragthorpe to dry himself off in the engine room," continued First Officer Perkins. "When you get hungry, come up on deck. Mr. Costigan will see that you're fed if I'm not here."
The rescued one, after offering profuse thanks, was led below by the seaman guide.
"Mr. Costigan, what do you know about the 'Dolbear'?" called up Ab, softly.
"She belongs to the New Zealand line, and is due in 'Frisco about this present time," replied the third officer from the bridge.
"Then it's all right, as far as Cragthorpe goes?"
"All I wanted," Ab finished, "was to be easy in my mind that the stranger didn't come from the 'Victor.' Don't let us get at all astern again, Mr. Costigan."
In the meantime Jeff Randolph, sitting out through a long and lonely watch in the engine room, was not sorry to see company coming his way.
For some time they chatted together. Cragthorpe seemed greatly interested in finding such young officers aboard the motor yacht. He asked many questions about the Motor Boat Club.
At last Jeff Randolph rose, excusing himself and stepping just outside the engine room door, though lingering near enough to hear a signal from the bridge, if one came. The young assistant engineer wanted to stretch his legs after sitting a long time by the motors. No sooner was the motor boat boy out of sight than the stranger rose swiftly. Snatching up a wrench, he prowled about the motors as though looking for something.
At last he evidently discovered what he wanted. Instantly he laid the wrench on a bolt-head.
Luckily, at that moment, the Florida boy turned about, glancing into the engine room.
What he saw made Jeff stare, then gasp. Both operations were over in the space of a second.
"Here, you infernal rascal!" shouted Jeff. "Stop it!"
Nor did he content himself with that startled roar. The Florida boy carried his fighting pluck with him at all times.