"Look out, gal!" hoarsely cried Old Jack, and he snatched Alice back only just in time, for the mast splintered down right in front of her.
With the crash and splintering of the wood, and the breaking of the side of the schooner, there arose the cry of:
"We're wrecked! We're wrecked!"
CHAPTER XXII
"MUTINY!"
Jack Jepson's first thought was to get Alice to a place of safety.
"You shouldn't have come up!" he shouted in her ear, as he fairly carried her along the sloping deck. He had to shout to be heard above the roar of the wind, the pounding of the broken mast against the side of the schooner, and the swish of the salt water whipped into spray by the powerful gale.
Jack set Alice down at the head of the companionway, and indicated by gestures, rather than words, that she was to go below. As she descended the sloping stairs, holding to the rope rail to prevent stumbling, she saw Captain Brisco spring forward. Whatever else he was, the commander did not shrink from any emergency.
"Cut away that mast!" he cried. "She'll have us stove in if we don't cut her loose!"