So for a few minutes it remained.
Then, in a flash, its curiosity turned to furious rage as it noted an unfortunate movement of Wilson’s. But for that the creature might have departed as it had come, silently and peaceably.
Its four mighty paddles churned the already racing water into a mass of froth as, snorting furiously, it swept down upon the Seal.
Just for a moment the lad stood petrified. The suddenness of the thing, and, above all, the fearful size of the attacker held him spellbound.
He realised only too well the need for instant action if the Seal were to be saved, yet his trembling limbs refused to obey the prompting of his brain.
But to him came the recollection of his friends’ dependence upon the vessel; if she were destroyed his absent comrades were lost!
The thought gave him strength.
With a bound he leapt to the stairhead, and darted down to the engine-room. Thrusting over the lever to the last notch, he dashed back again into the wheelhouse, just as the Seal, straining under the full power of her engines, snapped her mooring cable like a cotton thread and sped seaward.
Past the raging reptile she flashed like a meteor, and for a few moments the engineer’s heart bounded with hope that the giant brute would not give chase.
But not so easily was the ichthyosaurus shaken off. With a sweep of his tail he turned and swung after the flying vessel.