He hung suspended between life and death.
In a second more the forked flames would catch the maiden’s dress.
Bob Bertram, without a word, slipped down the rope, and disentangled it.
A loud shout from above rewarded his valor and daring.
“Quick! quick!” faintly cried Ned, now almost suffocated with smoke. “Quick, quick! I am choking! Quick, Bob, or all is lost!”
With the energy of despair the sailors pulled away at the rope.
Yet all the time they had to fight against the vile Skeleton Crew, who every moment were trying to cut the rope.
Some were up the rigging, firing down on the brave men.
Others plunged overboard, and swam away towards the shore.
All was a scene of intense excitement.