But Barney laid it up against the darky just the same, and muttered:
“I’ll foix him fer it!”
While Pomp said:
“I done fink dat I’ishman am cast iron inside. I never fought he was sich a tough man afore.”
But for all that, the whisky did affect the Celt.
It was powerful strong and made Barney feel a bit tipsy. His hand was not so strong at the wheel.
As a result, an accident occurred. The boat was approaching a reef at full speed, when Barney’s foot slipped and he fell.
Before he could regain his feet the wheel spun around, there was a shock, and everybody was hurled to the cabin floor. The lights went out, there was a booming of waters and all was darkness.
The boat stood still. Frank Reade, Jr., was the first to recover himself.
He arose and groped his way into the pilot-house.