"Come back
from there! Do you want to get blown into bits?"
The boys rushed forward to seize their chum and drag him to a place of
safety. He kept on undaunted. Harrison gazed in open mouthed terror from
one to the other. All seemed horror stricken at the situation. Rowdy
tugged fiercely at his leash.
All could now see clearly the sputtering fuse attached to the package
lying on the forward deck. From the gentle manner in which Wyckoff had
handled it they guessed its contents. None knew better than the intrepid
lad approaching the parcel what the result would be were he a second too
late. Even as he hurried forward a chill seemed to run through his veins
with the thought of what might happen were he not able to reach the
package in time.
Harrison often declares that never to his dying day will he forget the
coolness and excellent nerve displayed by Charley as he approached the
sputtering fuse on the other end of which lay lurking probable death for
the whole party. He says that out of all his varied experiences none
stands forth with more distinctness than does the one through which he
passed that night on the Fortuna.
Doright was paralyzed with terror and sank limply to the floor, resting
his head on a bunk and praying as he never had prayed before for
deliverance. His voice was gone, but his lips worked convulsively while
his face took on a drawn and haggard expression seeming to visibly
shrink together, leaving great pouches beneath his eyes and lines
through his cheeks.
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