“Hard astern!” yelled Sam. “Astern for your lives!”
Jerry never moved more quickly than he did to throw the reverse gear in, and send the gasolene and sparking levers over. With a splutter and roar the motor got into action, and the Dartaway began to back.
And only just in time, for the whale fairly leaped out of the water from the pain of the iron. Then it brought its great flukes down on the surface, sending up a shower of spray that soaked the occupants of the boat.
The line began to run from the tub and over an improvised roller Sam had fastened in the bow. So rapidly did it spin out that the bearings began to smoke, and the old sailor dipped up water in a tin can and began pouring it over the wood, to prevent it from catching fire.
“Struck good and deep!” he cried. “Old Sam is some good yet.”
The engine was still running on the reverse, but, in a few minutes the boys noticed that they were going forward.
“What’s the matter?” asked Ned.
At that the last of the line was out of the tub, but before then it had been quickly caught around a cleat, by Sam.
“We’re being towed out to sea,” the old sailor said. “Don’t be afraid. It’s what I expected.”