“No!” screamed Velo. “No, no! I am going to stay here!”
“Don’t you hear the Captain?” cried Zaidos. “Jump! Jump!”
Velo pulled back and Zaidos urged him toward the heaving water.
“It’s our one chance, Velo!” he cried. “We will go down with the ship if we stay.”
He suddenly gave Velo a push and flung him into the water. Together they swam rapidly from the rail. As though to give the soldiers the one slim chance for their lives, the ship, leaning on its side, still balanced at the lip of the sea. Then with a sickening roar the vessel went down. Zaidos looked over his shoulder. On the bridge, white haired, erect, undismayed, stood the Captain. As the waters engulfed him he even smiled. A fearful force dragged at the boys and swept them toward the great whirlpool made by the ship. They swam desperately, and just as strength seemed to fail, the pressure was released and they floated in a sea covered with wreckage and with swimming or drowning men.
The boys were swimming close together when Velo gave a cry and clasped Zaidos around the neck in a choking grip. At once they both went under, and Zaidos fought his way out of the strangling clasp; but Velo seized him by the arm. They came up, and Zaidos turned on his cousin.
“Don’t, don’t let me go!” Velo begged with staring eyes. “I’m getting a cramp!”
“Then let go of me!” cried Zaidos. “I’ll save you if I can, but don’t grab me!”
Velo, overcome with terror, tried to obey, but his reason was not as strong as his terror. Once more he tried to grasp Zaidos.
The boy turned, grabbed him by the throat, and forced him under water.