“Maybe we hit another vessel,” ventured Harry.
“Or a rock, perhaps,” continued Jack. “We surely struck something solid. I hope we don’t hit it again like that first crack!”
“Look here, boys!” cried Ned in alarm. “The motion of this ship is much less than it was a minute ago! Notice it?”
“It surely is!” agreed Jack. “Is the wind going down?”
“We are getting into some sort of shelter,” guessed Harry. “Probably von Kluck has navigated the schooner behind a breakwater.”
“Boys, the ship is sinking!” shouted Ned. “See the water coming into this cabin! We’ve struck a floating mine!”
In alarm the boys sprang to their feet. As Ned had said, the motion was lessening rapidly. They found little difficulty now in keeping their footing without support. With one accord they made a break for the companionway, crowding out in a body.
The sight that met their gaze brought consternation to every heart. The schooner lay head to the wind. The mainsail had been set with a double reef, to help keep the vessel in that position. The seas seemed alarmingly higher than when they had been last on deck.
This was due, of course, to the difference in perspective, owing to the fact that they were fast settling into the water.
Above the stern clung traces of heavy, black smoke. A disagreeable odor pervaded the atmosphere in spite of the strong wind.