“I’ve got mine in the cabin,” said Jack. “I’ll borrow Muller’s for you.”
“Good for you. Gosh! Look at those flames. Seems to be a big steamer.”
Both boys paused a moment to look at the awe-inspiring spectacle of the blazing ship.
As they did so, something occurred which chilled the hot blood in their veins and caused them to exchange startled, bewildered looks.
Over the dark, heaving waters that divided them from the blazing vessel there was borne to their ears what sounded like an awful concerted groan of agony. Again and again it came, rising and falling in a terrible rhythm. It was not human. It sounded like the sufferings of demons.
“Wow! But that’s fearful!” exclaimed Bill, paling. “What under the sun can it be?”
CHAPTER XIV.
THE CATTLE SHIP.
The awesome sound continued while the boats were being lowered. The weird nature of the uproar and its mystery made even the rough seamen apprehensive. The more religious among them crossed themselves fervently.
“Bad cess to it, if it don’t sound like the howling of poor sowls in purgathory,” muttered one of them.