“Jumping juniper! What’s up now?� cried Noddy in some alarm.
“Don’t know. But something has happened,� replied Raynor.
At the same moment came a shout from the helmsman. There was a rush of feet on deck. The boys could hear it plainly in one of those lulls that sometimes occur in the midst of even the fiercest storms. Lanterns flashed and questions and answers were bawled about the deck.
They saw Terror Carson, followed by his mate, rush up on deck. Then came a loud shout.
“All hands aft. The mainsail has gone!�
Raynor flung the door open.
“Come on,� he cried but Noddy hung back.
“What fer? Dey might cotch yer,� he said.
“I don’t care. Some bad accident has happened. The schooner may be going down.�
Indeed, from the wild yawing and pitching the craft was doing, it did seem as if she was mortally injured in some way. Thus urged by Raynor, Noddy accompanied him toward the stern. There was a cluster of sailors about the after mast. It appeared, as well as Raynor could make out, that something had happened to the boom or the gaff.