A sudden striking of the hull on submerged rocks almost capsized Jack and his protector. The damaged foremast, with all attached, went over the bow. Mr. Sennit was pitched clean off the forecastle-head into the water, and thus was undoubtedly saved from being crushed to death beneath the falling spars. Most of the after masts were also snapped off by the force of the blow, but no one was injured. The hull was lifted clear of obstruction, and with a long downward glide finally took the ground in three fathoms of water.
Mr. Sennit was immediately assisted on board, none the worse of his unexpected dip, and Captain Thorne congratulated him on his fortunate escape.
The 'Alert,' with slight 'list' or inclination to port, was hard and fast fore and aft. Readyman and Jack Clewlin had no necessity to swim ashore. The main deck of the wreck remained clear of the water, and no inconvenience was occasioned to anyone on board.
'Well done, old girl!' the quarter-master exclaimed. 'You're fixed now, and did us a real good turn.'
'But it is hard lines, after being together so long,' Jack said.
'We may not part company yet,' Readyman added. 'I'd sooner live here than ashore. The old man managed that last scoot in a surprising way, Master Jack. Many another would have lost his head, and smothered all hands. I never saw a neater bit of seamanship. Part company? Well, sonny, when we lose sight of this island, I reckon it will be about time to talk of that, but not before. How can anyone tell that this place isn't swarming with niggers ready to bake us for breakfast? I'll stick to the old craft yet.'
'Do you know, Readyman, that we are just two years out?'
'Ay, ay, and when leaving Stonewell you or the dad never expected that through following the skipper you'd see so many parts of the world, and in the end become a second Robinson Crusoe, so to speak.'
'That's true,' Jack said; 'but now that I have been shipwrecked it does not feel half so exciting or splendid as reading of such things in a book. Indeed, Readyman, if my father could only know that I am alive and well, I should feel quite contented.'
'Well, lad, I don't see there's any use in looking at the affair like that. We might be rescued to-morrow, for all that any of us can tell. Even supposing we have to bunk it out here for a spell, it might just as well be done with a light as a heavy heart. Meeting trouble half-way ain't my motto at all; keep your heart up, sonny, and we'll pull through all right.'