A brief examination disclosed the fact that beyond a few minor bruises none of the boys had been seriously injured. Their first care was for each other. All were glad to find no one badly hurt.
“What on earth can have happened to us?” asked Ned, peering from a port light on the starboard side. “Did we collide with something?”
“I don’t believe we did,” returned Harry. “There wasn’t any bump as if we’d run into another object. We just stopped!”
“And then the stern went up into the air and stayed there!” put in Jack. “Something’s got us by the stern and won’t let go!”
“I think I know what it is!” announced Frank. “What is it they call these fishermen with a big net dragging around?”
“Fishermen!” answered Jimmie, with a grin.
“Stop your nonsense!” ordered Frank, administering a friendly punch to his red-headed comrade. “I mean the fellows with a big drag net!”
“Trawlers is the word you want, Frank!” said Jimmie.
“That’s it!” agreed Frank. “I’ll bet we’re tangled in one of their nets. Maybe we can’t get loose again, either,” he added.
“Don’t you believe it!” scorned Jimmie. “If it was a fisherman had hold of us, we’d be yanked around pretty lively. I think it is that rope we saw hanging in front of the port light!”