In the given scenario:
-cook (lays at the bottom of the boat, looking at the ocean, saying "Gawd, that was a narrow clip")
-oiler (Billie: was steering with one of the two oars)
-correspondent (pulls the other oar, watched the waves and wondered why he was there)
-captain (was buried in the profound dejection and indifference that came with the ship sinking. His voice was deep with mourning)
Who is steering with one of the two oars?
a) The cook
b) The correspondent
c) The captain
d) The oiler