“Look out!� roared the mate.
But Carson did not appear to hear.
“He’ll be killed dead!� shrilled Noddy, looking on with horror.
“The boom!� shouted Raynor.
Suddenly Carson saw his danger. But he stepped aside too late. Another instant and his brains would have been battered out. But Raynor, with a flash of inspiration, averted a tragedy. Stooping down he seized a stout rope attached to the boom. In another instant he had it wrapped round a stout timber “bitt.�
The rope strained as the force of the threshing boom came on it. It drew taut as a violin string. But it held. The big swaying spar was checked within a foot of the captain’s head.
Almost instantly a swarm of sailors swooped down on the boom and secured it strongly. It was then that Terror Carson stepped up to Raynor. His hand was held out.
“I thought you had escaped, boy,� he said, “but it seems you were destined to save my life. I thank you.�
The words were simple, but there was a curious break in the giant seal poacher’s voice as he uttered them.