"Light another blue!" "Ay, ay, sir!" came from far away, for the tide ran hissing by our sides in full rush for the sea, and the third blue-light which blazed out looked smaller and smaller, while those of the first boat and the life-buoy began to show faint, and then all at once that on the buoy seemed to go out.
"That blue-light ought to have burned longer on the buoy," cried Mr Reardon.
"They've picked up the buoy and laid it across the bows of the boat," said Mr Brooke, who was watching through his night-glass, and at that moment the light blazed out again like a star.
And still the halos shed by the lights grew fainter and fainter.

Then one light burned out, and the lieutenant stamped with anger, but there was no cause for his irritation.

Another flashed out directly.
The boats were too far away now for us to see much of what was going on, the heads of the men growing blurred, but we saw that they were zig-zagging across the tide, and we listened in vain for the hail and the cheer that should accompany the words-- "Got him, sir!" The buzz of conversation among the men, who clustered on deck, in the shrouds and tops, grew fainter, and I was thinking whether I was very much to blame, and if I could in any way have saved the poor fellow.
Then I began thinking of the men in the forecastle, and their punishment for being the cause, in their boyish way of playing tricks, of the poor Chinaman's death.
I wouldn't be Tom Jecks for all the world, I muttered, and then I turned cold and shuddered, as the hope, faint though it was, of Ching being picked up went out like one of the lights that now disappeared; for Captain Thwaites said sadly-- "I'm afraid we must recall the boats, Mr Reardon." "Yes, sir," said the lieutenant in a husky voice.

"I don't think any one is to blame about the attempt to save the poor fellow, sir.

The life-buoy was let go, and the boat lowered promptly; the dishipline of the men was good." "Excellent, Mr Reardon.