His eyes sought the dropping needle.

Then the light of decision filled his eyes.

A smile came to his face, where the deep gash made by the splinter of glass had been patched up with collodion and cotton.

He plugged in on another line, by the touch of a button.
"Simonds! Is that you ?" "Yes, sir," answered the quartermaster, in charge of all the stores.
"Have you jettisoned everything ?" "All we can spare, sir.

All but the absolute minimum of food and water." "Overboard with them all!" "But, sir--" "And drop the body of Auchincloss, too.