Part 27 (1/2)

Captain Barforth had left the steam yacht in charge of the first mate and was on the companionway going below. With two bounds he was on deck and running toward the bow at top speed.

”What was it? Have we a hole in the bow?” he questioned, of the frightened lookouts, who had been sent spinning across the slippery deck.

”Couldn't make out, captain--it was something black,” said one lookout.

”Black and square-like.”

”I think it was a bit of old wreckage,” said the other. ”Anyway, it wasn't another vessel, and it was too dark for a lumber raft.”

”Is it out of sight?”

It was, and though all strained their eyes they could not make out what had been struck, nor did they ever find out.

From the deck the captain made his way below, followed by Mr. Rover, who was anxious to learn the extent of the injuries. In the meantime the ladies and girls had joined the boys on the deck, and the latter began to get out the life preservers.

The most excited man on board was Asa Carey, and without waiting for orders from the captain, he ordered two of the small boats gotten ready to swing overboard. Then he ran down to his stateroom, to get some of his possessions.

”Is we gwine to de bottom?” questioned Aleck, as he appeared, clad in a pair of slippers and a blanket.

”I don't know,” answered Fred. ”I hope not.”

The boys had all they could do to keep the girls quiet, and Grace was on the point of becoming hysterical, which was not to be wondered at, considering the tremendous excitement.

”We cannot be so very far from one of the islands,” said d.i.c.k. ”And if the worst comes to the worst we ought to be able to make sh.o.r.e in the small boats.”

”Are there enough boats?” asked Mrs. Laning.

”Yes, the steam yacht is well equipped with them.”

The engine of the vessel had been stopped and the steam yacht lay like a log on the rolling waves. The shocks had caused some of the lights to go out, leaving the pa.s.sengers in semi-darkness.

”Oh, d.i.c.k, do you think we'll go down?” whispered Dora, as she clung to his arm.

”Let us hope not, Dora,” he answered and caught her closer. ”I'll stick to you, no matter what comes!”

”Yes! yes! I want you to do that! And stick to mamma, too!”

”I will. But I don't think we'll go down just yet,” he went on, after a long pause. ”We seem to be standing still, that's all.”

They waited, and as they did so he held her trembling hands tightly in his own. In that minute of extreme peril they realized how very much they were to one another.

At last, after what seemed to be hours, but was in reality less than five minutes, Anderson Rover appeared.

”There is no immediate danger,” said he. ”We must have struck some sort of wreckage, or lumber float. There is a small hole in the bow, just above the water line, and several of the seams have been opened.

Captain Barforth is having the hole closed up and has started up the donkey pump to keep the water low in the hold. He says he thinks we can make one of the nearby ports without great trouble.”

This news removed the tension under which all were suffering, and a little later the ladies and the girls retired to the cabin, and Aleck stole back to his sleeping quarters. The boys went forward, to inspect the damage done, but in the darkness could see little.

”It was an accident such as might happen to any vessel,” said the captain, later. ”The lookouts were evidently not to blame. There are many derelicts and bits of lumber rafts scattered throughout these waters and consequently traveling at night or in a fog is always more or less dangerous.”

”We shall have to put up somewhere for repairs, not so?” questioned Anderson Rover.