Isles of the Sea by Oliver Optic

"There seems to be but one man on board the wreck," said Wainwright, when the Tritonia had passed out of hailing distance.

"And he says there are two women on board," added Marline. "It seems to me that I have heard that man's voice before."

"He speaks plain English, at any rate," continued the captain. "Have you any idea what has become of the Josephine, Mr. Marline?"

"It was easy enough to lose her in such a night as the last. She may have carried sail while we were laying to, or we may have carried sail while she was doing so. She may have been within a few miles of us when we changed our course to the nor'ard."

"But, if she had been anywhere near us, she would have heard the guns on this steamer," suggested Wainwright.

"I think we shall have a change of weather soon, and we shall find out where she is."

"The barometer is rising; and I am confident, if the Josephine's people heard those guns, she will follow them up, and we shall see her in the course of the forenoon."

"No doubt of it," replied Marline. "The fog is lifting now."

"The steamer seems to be in no danger of sinking," added Wainwright, as he brought his glass to bear upon her. "Her stern is well down in the water, but her bow is clear up in the air."

"She won't go down unless the weather gets worse. It is moderating very rapidly."

"What can we do with the steamer after we get on board of her? " asked the captain, who had been considering this question since the wreck was first discovered.

"I don't know that we can do any thing but save the passengers," replied Marline.

"But the vessel seems to be in good condition; and it may be possible to take her into port."

"It may be; but I think we have not force enough to handle her, if the crew have deserted her."

"If we save her, won't she belong to us? " inquired Wainwright, who had been a seaman on the Josephine when she picked up a Dutch vessel in the North Sea, in a sinking condition.

"No; but the judges of the Marine Court, or whatever they call it over here, decide what part of the value of the vessel shall be given to those that save her."

"It is a case of salvage, then. I didn't know but the vessel, if she had been wholly abandoned, might go to those who picked her up."

"I am no sea-lawyer, and I don't know much about it; but my notion is, that if the owners claim her, they take her by paying the salvage decreed by the court. I am sorry Mr. Pelham is not here to settle all the questions that may come up concerning this steamer."

"I think we shall be able to settle them somehow or other," replied Wainwright confidently. "It would be a big thing for the Tritonia to send that vessel into port."

"So it would; but it will be a bigger thing to save the passengers on board of her. Though we see but one man on board of her, there may be a dozen or twenty," added Marline.