“You don’t mean to say that all these folks are here to grab something from that steamer?” cried Fred, aghast.
“That’s just it!” replied the Captain.
“Oo-oh! if that isn’t stealing in the eye of the law, why can’t we pick up something too—just a souvenir, you know!” ventured Billy, breathlessly.
By this time, they were drawing closer to the wreck. Careened over, rolling and crunching in the heavy swells, the Katahdin was too dangerous for close quarters, and in fact, that was the only thing that kept the circling boats at a distance from her.
The greed of the watchers was stimulated by the stray bits of wreckage that were seen swashing around, and so contagious is the desire to get something for nothing, especially when the law smiles leniently upon the pirate, that the boys and Captains in the Zeus otherwise peaceable law-abiding Americans, now felt the maddening frenzy to secure a prize, too.
Suddenly, a fiercer gust of wind and a seventh wave struck the hapless boat at the same time raising her up only to crash her down amidships on the back-bone of Old Scilly. With a rending and splitting heard above the roar of the breakers, the steamer broke in two and began to vomit forth her cargo.
After that pandemonium reigned. The boys could never tell just when they, too, turned into lawless pirates!
In the wild scramble for the floating cases from the hold of the steamer, many a launch and boat had the bows stove in. Free fights ensued and the butts of oars were used with telling effect on the heads of others. Of course, the Zeus did not engage in this warfare, but she soon was piled high with a miscellaneous freight.
As for the prizes contained in that cargo, it wasn’t a time to pick and choose, but a case of “grab and get” before it sank from sight.
A crate floated near the boys and piercing squeals from the inside drew the attention of the pirates of the Zeus to it.