Part 15 (1/2)
”I wonder what weather the old 'U-13' is making of it about now?” said Frank, as the boys grouped themselves about the little table.
”She's in smoother water than this, I'll venture to say,” put in Jimmie, clutching the edge of the table in an effort to support himself.
”If they are not in better water than this,” remarked Harry, ”they're getting shaken up some! I'd like to be under water right now!”
”Why, Harry,” spoke up Ned, ”you shouldn't say that!”
”I mean in a tight little submarine!” explained Harry.
”I wish we had the Sea Lion over here!” cried Jimmie. ”We could have more fun than we had when we tried to rescue the papers out of that s.h.i.+p in the Gulf of Tong King with Moore and his nosey son b.u.t.ting in!”
”That was sure some fine boat!” declared Ned. ”Just as easy to ride in as a rocking chair. And it was always smooth and--”
The boy's speech was cut short by a violent roll of the vessel. All the lads were thrown in a heap to the cabin floor. Directly the schooner righted herself, but began pitching with a violent motion. From the sounds the boys knew that the captain had hove to, bringing the vessel into the wind. Apparently he intended riding out the storm.
Waves were breaking over the bows, falling with tremendous blows upon the forward deck. The scuppers were not able to release the flood.
Suddenly a terrific crash sounded directly beneath the cabin floor. The stern seemed to lift bodily into the air. A shudder ran through the fabric. Again the boys fell to the deck.
CHAPTER X
s.h.i.+PWRECK AND RESCUE
Above the noises of the tempest and the straining timbers sounded cries from the deck that told of confusion amongst the crew. Von Kluck's hoa.r.s.e voice was bawling out orders mixed with great sea oaths. He was driving the men to some duty.
The tramping of feet above the boys sounded for a moment, then ceased.
Judging from the sounds they thought the men had gathered in the waist of the vessel. Puzzled, they looked at each other in fear.
”What's up?” inquired Jimmie, attempting to rise to his feet.
Ned steadied himself at the table as he tried to peer out of the little skylight overhead. He could see nothing.
”We just about struck something!” declared Jimmie.
”Maybe we hit another vessel,” ventured Harry.
”Or a rock, perhaps,” continued Jack. ”We surely struck something solid.
I hope we don't hit it again like that first crack!”
”Look here, boys!” cried Ned in alarm. ”The motion of this s.h.i.+p is much less than it was a minute ago! Notice it?”
”It surely is!” agreed Jack. ”Is the wind going down?”
”We are getting into some sort of shelter,” guessed Harry. ”Probably von Kluck has navigated the schooner behind a breakwater.”
”Boys, the s.h.i.+p is sinking!” shouted Ned. ”See the water coming into this cabin! We've struck a floating mine!”
In alarm the boys sprang to their feet. As Ned had said, the motion was lessening rapidly. They found little difficulty now in keeping their footing without support. With one accord they made a break for the companionway, crowding out in a body.