The big steamer cut the little craft in two as cleanly as with a knife.
CHAPTER II
Carried Away to Sea
As the big, black hull of the steamer crashed into the sail boat, a loud shout went up from her deck. The note of fright in it penetrated even through the shrieks of the gale.
"Boat under our starboard bow, sir—we've run her down."
The warning shout and the cry that announced the disaster were punctuated only by a breath. Then followed a babel of orders and the quick clanging of signal bells in the engine room. The sudden churning of the screws in the angry waters told that the steamer's engines were reversed.
A man rushed out of the cabin and took a commanding place on the steamer's bridge.
"Where did she go down?" he shouted in the ear of the mate, who clung to the rail and peered back into the darkness.