The foot rope had parted under the Irishman.
He fell toward the deck.
As he felt himself going he flung out his hands.
They encountered a back stay, and he grasped it tightly.
There came a violent shock on the rope, and it parted under the weight of the Celt’s body, but he retained his hold on the lower portion of it, and took a rapid turn of it around his arm.
Down he shot like a stone.
A shout of alarm escaped Frank when he saw his friend flying through the air, and go over the railing.
“Lost!” gasped the inventor, in tones of dread.
He rushed to the side, and Pomp hastened down from the yards.
Barney gave himself up for lost, for the Ranger was then at a height of 2,000 feet from the sea, and he knew he was bound to perish before landing in the water.