Jack's hands swiftly traveled over the switchboard seeming to find as if by instinct just the right levers. The engines stopped and then reversed full speed! The Fortuna shook and quivered from stern to stern. She fell off slightly into the trough.
"On deck!" shouted Jack. "Here's a collision."
Tom and Harry were on deck instantly. Jack leaned against the switchboard and groaned. The next instant came a crash!
CHAPTER II
CRIPPLED BY THE STRANGER
With a lunge the Fortuna struck a dark object riding the crest of an oncoming wave. Jack stood against the switchboard scarcely daring to look while Arnold came crowding up the companion-way his face blanched and eyes staring. Harry and Tom were on the forward deck looking along either side of the plunging boat.
"What did we hit?" queried Arnold in a shaking tone.
"I don't know," replied Jack. "Whatever it was, we don't seem to be sunk yet, though. Maybe it was just a few floating boards washed adrift from some vessel."