The silent one waved, then disappeared, and presently bobbed up above the rail with a coil of harpoon-line in his hand.
"Heave away!" yelled Jack.
The rope's-end came snaking out over the water, and Jack, leaving his life-buoy, made a dive after it.
"Who'll go first?" he asked quickly, on getting hold of the line.
"Can't we-alls go in a bunch," inquired Broncho. "It would be a safer play that-away. I ain't hankerin' on playin' a lone hand agin them two tiger-lilies. Where's the rest of the band? The deal seems some queer to me."
"We must go one at a time. Which is it, quick?" asked Jack shortly.
"Pass me," returned Broncho distrustfully. "You take the first deal, Jack; you've been acquainted with them tattooed gents before, an' mebbe will make a better play of it, breakin' the ice, than either Jim or me."
"Yes, go ahead, Jack—if you think it's all right," added the boy uneasily.
"Well, here goes then," and watching his chance as the barque rolled, he shouted, "Haul away!" and at the same time kicked out lustily towards the ship.
The sea swung him right up to the rail, and catching hold quickly, with the aid of the Kanaka he managed to scramble aboard, and a few seconds later Broncho and Jim were likewise hauled over the bulwark into safety. And as they lay on the deck rubbing their cramped and chilled limbs to restore the circulation, they gazed around anxiously; but except for the two Kanakas, who stood regarding them silently, the decks seemed to be deserted.