“It would be surprising if they hadn’t been hurt,” observed Jimmy. “They didn’t have time to shut off steam, and their screws probably came in contact with the ice. But they haven’t any kick coming if it’s only an injury to the vessel they’ve got to worry about. They ought to be glad that they’re still alive.”
The vessel had now come to a stop, and signals were interchanged with the Meteor by wireless that caused the latter to swing about in its course and steam toward the injured ship.
When within a few hundred feet, the Meteor lowered a boat and sent over a party in command of Lieutenant Milton.
It developed that, as the boys had conjectured, the screw of the vessel had suffered from contact with the ice, and Captain Springer loaned the ship the services of some of his skilled mechanics to assist in putting it again in working order.
Several hours were thus consumed, and it was nearly dark before the damage had been sufficiently patched up to permit the vessel to continue the journey that had come so near to being cut short.
It was from Ensign Porter that the Radio Boys later learned the details of the occurrence.
“Just a case for the fool-killer,” the latter told them. “Only in that instance he didn’t happen to be on the job. The captain explained the whole matter sheepishly enough to Lieutenant Milton when he went over.
“The vessel’s a tramp freighter, but of pretty good size. This trip she is carrying as passengers some relatives of the owner.
“It seems that some of the passengers on board had never seen an iceberg before, and they were so crazy over it that they urged the captain to go close to it, so that they could have a better view. He was weak enough to yield to their pleadings, and nearly paid the penalty with his life and theirs. He confessed to the lieutenant that he had forgotten for the moment that a spur might be stretched out under the water.”
“I’ll bet that when he felt the steamer being lifted up he was scared stiff,” remarked Bob.