I found it necessary, at this exciting point of the chase, to sheer off myself, lest a treacherous rock should knock a hole in the Belle. At the same instant the Highflyer rose on a wave, and then went down on the sharp rocks, with so much force that her bottom must have been completely stove in. I heard the crash, and held my breath with anxiety for the fate of the boys on board. They dropped down into the water, which I could now see rose within her nearly to the gunwales, and held on for life.
The receding wave carried the wreck back, and another lifted it up and jammed it down upon the jagged rocks with tremendous force. It was built of light material, and could not resist such a pounding for a single instant. Her mast went by the board, and she actually broke into pieces. The next wave that swept over her forced two of the four boys out of her, and pitched them into the water while the other two held on to the fragments.
“That’s rough!” gasped Waddie.
“I hope they will get out of it; but we can’t do anything for them,” I replied, with my heart in my throat.
I saw the two fellows who had been pitched out of the boat making their way over the rocks to the dry land. One of them limped, as though he had been severely injured. By this time all of them had lost their masks, or uncovered their faces; but they were too far from me to be identified. The Belle was now standing away from the scene of the thrilling event close-hauled; but we watched the two boys on the wreck, still fearful that the fierce waves might swallow them up. The billows continued to drive the fragments nearer to the shore, till we saw the boys rush through the water and make their escape.
“That is the end of the Highflyer,” said Waddie. I was thankful that it was not also the end of her late crew.
CHAPTER IX.
BY THE GREAT HORN SPOON!
By this time the wind had increased to a tempest, and never before had I seen such waves and such spray on Lake Ucayga. I should not have been willing to believe that any sea that ever raged on our beautiful sheet of water could make such a complete wreck of a boat, even with the aid of the rocks, as that we had just witnessed. The Highflyer was as thoroughly broken up as though the work had been accomplished with axes and hammers, and the pieces were driven far up on the rocky shore.
The persecutors of Waddie had escaped; but they had probably been as effectually frightened as any four boys ever were before; and they were not likely to go into the business of navigation again on their own account very soon. They deserved a severe punishment; but, on the whole, I was rather glad that we had not been able to identify them, for the vengeance of Waddie and his father was also so disproportionate to the offense that, in the present instance, nothing less than absolute ruin of the ruffians, and even of their families and friends, would appease the wrath of the injured magnate and his son.
The Belle behaved remarkably well. I was aware of her stiff and stanch character before I bought her; but she more than realized my expectations. She was as buoyant as a feather, and lifted her head to the seas as gracefully as though the tempest was her natural element. She took in torrents of spray, but she did not ship any water. Her mast bent like a reed in the blast, and, of course, I had to favor her when the heavy gusts struck her. Both Waddie and myself were wet to the skin, and both of us were shivering with the cold. It was not exactly pleasant, therefore, however exciting it was.