This startling announcement of Wade’s caused a chill to traverse Frank’s frame. He shot a hasty glance at the distant vessel.
Then he saw the startling scene which had induced Wade’s declaration.
The storm had swooped down upon the schooner like a foul fiend. One brief glimpse of her fate was had.
She was seen to keel over with the force of the blast. Then her sails were in ribbons and her foremast snapped like a pipestem.
The next moment she was on her beam-ends. Then the black cloud shut her from view.
The next moment the storm struck the Sea Diver. What followed was ever after like a dream.
The hurricane almost blew the staunch little boat out of the water. Enormous seas were hurrying and crashing over her deck.
Frank had ordered all into the cabin, and the doors and windows were closed hermetically. But the shock of the storm threatened to dash the little craft to pieces.
Frank saw the possibility of much damage being done, so he cried:
“Stand by the engines, Barney, I am going to send the boat down.”