All at once a cry broke from Bart’s lips.
“Luff! luff!” he screamed. “Hard a-port, or we’re goners!”
He pointed, and they all saw a dark mass that was bearing down upon them with the speed of an express train. It seemed to loom above them like the black shadow of doom. It sent a shudder of horror to their hearts.
“A vessel!” screamed Diamond.
“A vessel!” thundered Browning. “Look out, Merry!”
With all his strength Frank jammed down the tiller, and the boat came about on the other tack, although she seemed to do so with deathly slowness.
Every lad held his breath, expecting to hear a crash, feel the shock, or be hurled into the sea.
There was a slight jar, a scraping sound, and the black mass fled past.
“It’s the black schooner!” shouted Diamond.
The same thought had come to Frank. There seemed to be something familiar in this overshadowing peril of the deep.