Jack's hands swiftly traveled over the switchboard seeming to find as if
by instinct just the right levers. The engines stopped and then reversed
full speed! The Fortuna shook and quivered from stern to stern. She fell
off slightly into the trough.
"On deck!" shouted Jack. "Here's a collision."
Tom and Harry were on deck instantly. Jack leaned against the
switchboard and groaned. The next instant came a crash!
CHAPTER II
CRIPPLED BY THE STRANGER
With a lunge the Fortuna struck a dark object riding the crest of an
oncoming wave. Jack stood against the switchboard scarcely daring to
look while Arnold came crowding up the companion-way his face blanched
and eyes staring. Harry and Tom were on the forward deck looking along
either side of the plunging boat.
"What did we hit?" queried Arnold in a shaking tone.
"I don't know," replied Jack. "Whatever it was, we don't seem to be sunk
yet, though. Maybe it was just a few floating boards washed adrift from
some vessel."
"What did you see, boys?" Arnold called out to his companions on deck.
"Did we hit something or did it hit us?"
"Looks to me as if we had run down a row boat and cut her right in two!"
declared Tom. "I was sure I saw the stern of a boat just sinking here on
the starboard side."
Jack reeled against the wheel, covering his face with his hands. Despite
his efforts a groan escaped him. Arnold sprang toward his chum and put
an arm about his shoulders with a friendly air.
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