With astonishing speed, now, the wall approached. They could see every detail of the seagrowth clinging there. “Ten yards,” Johnny guessed. “Eight—five—three—” He was sitting on the inner handle of the lever and gripping the other hard. “Now—now comes the test!” he breathed.
The words were hardly out of his mouth when there came a grinding impact that all but lifted him from his place. And then—they were free of the ledge!
“Free!” Dave cried joyously. “Doris! We are safe!” he called into his speaker.
The ball rose slowly above the top of the ledge.
Dave, however, had spoken too soon. Scarcely had he settled back when a great spiral of coral, like the towers of a church, appeared to leap at them. This, he knew, grew from the top of the ledge.
There was just time for a lightning decision, but they were prepared for it.
“This lever is closest,” Dave exclaimed. “It’s our window or the lever!”
Throwing their whole weight on the lever handle, they waited a second—two—three—ten—twenty. Johnny heard his watch ticking them off....
Then came the heavy jolt. He was thrown so violently that his head struck the top, and his senses reeled.
When at last he was able to sit up and look out, he murmured a fervent “Thank God.” For the hazard was past. The glorious blue of water was all about them.